Most women are naturally givers. They give to their family and
friends first, and give to themselves last, if at all. Women often neglect
their own needs. One of the reasons for this is that women tend to
feel guilty about getting their own needs met. In our societies, we are
brought up to believe that we are the nurturers and the givers. Right from
a young age, it is instilled in us that we put the needs of others before our
own. From the time that parents start differentiating in the upbringing of
their sons and daughters, from the time a young woman is told that her
home lies with her husband’s family, from the time a daughter in law is
threatened that she may not produce a male heir to carry on the family
name, from the time that even a career woman must explain her expenses
to her husband or be passed up for promotion because she is a female,
from the time a woman stays silent to injustice and violence against her,
from the time a old mother becomes a burden to the family… it can begin
at any point in time, but it all results in a lack of self worth.

In the New Year, make each day a day in which you continue to
deepen your relationship with yourself and experience the life you know
you were meant to live. Wishing each one of you a very happy and
content 2012.
Until the next issue,


swadhwa@vow.com.np

i see it

editor’s pick

Your only
obligation in
any lifetime is
to be true to
yourself.
-Richard Bach

Charu Chadha

More and more women today are choosing to understand their needs,
to make choices without feeling guilt… it isn’t easy at all but it is a step in
the right direction. Some time ago I read an article on finding ways to love
yourself and I list here some of the steps that the author talked about…
(1) Forgive yourself – Not being able to do so will prevent you from
connecting to who you really are. People carry their mistakes their entire
life, remaining unhappy at the core, but remember there is no action that
is not worthy of forgiveness. It can be difficult and will take practice,
but it is an essential in loving yourself fully. (2) Stop comparing yourself
with others – the more you compare yourself to others, the less self worth
you place on yourself. (3) Stop seeking approval - Seeking approval is
similar to comparing yourself to others, and it’s fair to say that we all do
it from time to time. When you continuously seek approval from others to
validate your own self worth, you’re simply damaging your relationship
with yourself. Not seeking approval doesn’t mean to not care. I can say
without hesitation that I genuinely care about what my family and friends
think, however it’s important to stop the process of seeking. When you
rely on being happy from an outside source you are setting yourself up to
be miserable. (4) Believe in yourself - Loving and believing in yourself
go hand in hand. You can’t love yourself if you don’t believe in yourself,
and you can’t believe in yourself if you don’t love yourself first. To fully
experience what it means to live you must have a confidence in all you do,
even during the times in which you come up short. The wonderful thing
about believing in yourself is that you are the only one responsible. Trust
in your judgement and know that through both the good and bad you are
worthy. (5) Practice silence - Practicing silence allows for you to get a
glimpse of the person you really are. Practicing silence allows for you to
turn off all that chatter and self doubt and directly experience the bliss of
being alive. You owe it to yourself to be silent at least once a day. (6) Eat
Healthy and Exercise - Part of loving yourself is allowing your body to be
in its top form. An occasional indulgence isn’t the end of the world, but
making a habit of destroying your body is. Truly loving yourself means
that you take care of your body and do everything you can to keep it in
good shape, both physically and mentally. (7) Express yourself - One of
the greatest ways you can love yourself is to express your gifts, whatever
they may be. Finding and honing your brilliance is a way to reveal what
it is that makes you remarkable. Do you enjoy writing? Share your stories
with the world. Do you like to draw? Paint to your heart’s content. Do
you like helping people find their purpose? Connect with as many people
as you can. It doesn’t matter what your passions are, express them to the
best of your ability.

Corporate Associate Editor

I thought I had it all planned out – this was to be the
year that I was supposed to take a long break – from work,
from schedules, deadlines and commitments… just take
three months off, go into the mountains, be near a beach,
learn Asian cooking, learn massage, read books, find a new
hobby, listen to the silence, meditate, watch the sunset, not
plan for another day… just go with the flow. But things
were obviously planned very, very differently for me by the
powers above… Looks like this year is going to be all about
learning, unlearning, relearning – some things new, some
things old…a very different kind of learning though, filled
with challenges and finding myself anew.
The past year has been tough, many hidden lessons,
many people, many realizations… I have learnt to accept
the shadows that come with the light, I have learnt to
taste the salt in my tears and know that a smile is not
far behind, I have learnt that even when things are not
as they should be I am not completely far away from the
purpose, I have learnt the circumstances, people and life
can change within seconds…and that sometimes its wiser
to step back than to fight.
Ultimately, however much we think we have control
over life, there’ll always be this much that is beyond our
control… when we recognize and accept this, it’s easier
to move on.

Art & Design Support
Keki Adhikari, actor, Dikyi Ukyab, singer, Nabina Basnet, model,
and Susmita Maskey, mountaineer and motivational speaker are some
of the few women who have made it to our list of women to watch for
2012. Turn to read about them and get the complete list on page 41.
Photographer: Rajiv Shrestha
Makeup and hair: Bishwo Ram KC, Riya Khadka
Wardrobe: Bossini, Durbarmarg
Cover design: Bindu Kumar Tandukar

While every precaution is taken, no responsibility is assumed for the return
of unsolicited material. All opinions expressed herein are those of the writers
and do not necessarily reflect on the publisher. The contents may not be
reproduced in any form without the prior consent of the publisher.
All rights reserved.
Publisher – Speciality Media Pvt Ltd
CDO Regd. No 33/061/62
Process (CTcP) by Qualitech Scan & Pre-press Pvt Ltd.
Printed at Print Point, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu
Tel : 4261314, 4256396
Distributor: Kasthamandap Distributor

December issue was mind boggling! From
the cover to the cover story… everything was
amazing. Neelima Sharma on the cover was
just right for the concept of your story. And
boy, did Neelima carry herself well! At 34, she
is an inspiration. At such an age when most
women think they’ve lived their life and that it
wouldn’t really suit them to go out and have fun,
Neelima’s story and her zeal for life can inspire
many. She is a perfect example of how one can
balance career and family without compromising
on either, and at the same time maintain oneself
so well. I really was surprised to learn that she has
two sons! She doesn’t look it at all. Kudos to her.
I am inspired to take care of myself too.
Likewise, My Cup of Tea was yet another feather in the VOW team’s
cap. I appreciate the team’s effort in bringing forth such small kids and make
them share their feelings about their parents and grandparents. The whole
article was full of cuteness. The kids are so adorable and smart. I also found
Lux Beauty Tips very useful. I am definitely going to try it out to get rid of my
own dark circles.
– Indira Shrestha

You made my day

In our lives, there are days when you
feel that nothing is going right. It was one
such day which started on a bad note and
was followed up with one thing or the other
going wrong. I then decided to get hold of
a copy of my favourite magazine, VOW, to
keep my mind away from the stress. Once
I started reading, I got so occupied that I
forgot everything I was irritated about. By
the time I finished reading it, I was bustling
with positivity and excitement. I guess the
articles in VOW are so inspiring that they
uplift you and help you help yourself. Also,
VOW talks about tiding over problems
in the most positive way possible and it
makes it all the more special. Right from
the editorials to your cover stories, the
magazine is jam-packed with inspiration,
entertainment, information… everything. I
am so thankful that there is VOW.
– Bimla Biswas

Happy New Year VOW

I have been reading your magazine
regularly since I was in school. But when
I got hold of the November issue, I was

All letters on this
page recieve a gift
hamper from Foot
Fetish, foot and
body treatment.
Tel : 4700701

a little upset because it was so thin! I
don’t want to complain but I so love
VOW that I want to keep reading it.
VOW is the best and all its contents
are laudable. I just hope your upcoming
issues will have more pages so that
greedy readers like me can have more
and more stuff to read. Having said
that, I wish the VOW team a happy and
prosperous new year 2012.
– Indu Rajbhandari

You instil positivity!

Namaste! Well, I am not a subscriber
of VOW but I regularly read from your
online archives. It might sound clichéd
but I really have developed positive
attitude towards life by reading VOW.
All the articles in VOW are simply
awesome. It might just be a regular work
of writing for you all, but the VOW team
must know that you have been touching
lives in so many ways. So I would like to
thank you all for coming up with such a
nice magazine. I will soon subscribe to its
hard copy.
– Sudin Shrestha

The best letter on this page
has won a Meal Voucher for
two (excluding beverages) at
Krishnarpan, a speciality Nepali
restaurant at Hotel Dwarika’s.

My Cup of

Tea

Come host
our next session
of

My Cup of Tea
Tell us
what you want
to talk about
&
who you’d
like to invite.

phenomena
Gone are the days when we read a newspaper and sent
our comment via email, only with faint hope that the writer
or the editor might have read it. We are past the days when
a television or a radio show got broadcast without the show
host or producers having a hint of what the audience and the
listeners felt about it. Today is the age of social media, where
communication is not limited to someone giving information
waiting for hours or even days to get a feedback, and then
perhaps another few hours or days to reply the commenter,
and so on; social media (facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google+,
blogspot, wordpress, etc) spurs interactive dialogue, and that
within no time!
While most of us are using facebook, twitter, Google+,
YouTube and a host of other social networking sites with the sole
purpose of connecting with friends, in the process, we are also
becoming a part of the social media phenomena where anything on
the internet can be shared and talked about. We are, intentionally
or otherwise, ‘liking’ pages of our favourite brands and celebrities,
retweeting what a journalist we’ve been following on twitter has
just tweeted, uploading videos on YouTube and sharing them on
facebook, twitter, Google+ or anywhere possible, hence promoting
someone’s name, brand and business. We are also blogging about
anything that interests us, following other bloggers, talking about
an awesome or not-so-awesome blog post by sharing its link on
other social networking sites and getting feedback from friends
and strangers. Not to forget how social media can make or break
people – the advent of Justin Bieber and the (almost) departure of
Rebecca Black are, but only two living examples of the power of
social media.
Kalyani Karki, a student of Law, hosts this edition of My
Cup of Tea as the participants share how and why they use
social media. Read on to learn what they have to say.
18 | VOW | January 2012

Social media is popular now as it offers a wide range of
sharing and digital interactivity. Today most corporate houses
and news channel have been utilising this platform for news
flow, product branding, and even for inviting people to events.
While the events
have noticed a rise
in funds and support,
the corporate houses
seem to have lowered
the budget that they
used to allocate for
promotional activities,
because through social
media like facebook,
twitter, blog, youtube,
etc, advertising is
just a click way. By
sharing one link in a
social medium, the
information can go
rampant at a really
large number of
audiences. No doubt
the world is going
digital. Look at the
gadgets we have
these days – digital
Kalyani Karki
TV, iPads, notebooks,
smartphones – all
of these aid the use
of our favourite
social media tools
conveniently and
rapidly. Having taken
the world by storm through its effective and quick ways, social
media has found its place in Nepal too. And this is one the
prime reason why I wanted to host this session of My Cup of
Tea. It is to inform people that social media is a platform not
only to get connected to old and new friends, but also a place
where we can make our voices heard and issues notified. While
facebook and twitter could be used effectively in sharing news
and views, YouTube videos could be used to bring to light
important issues to a larger audience. Likewise, professional
networking sites like Linked-In could be used as a platform to
have professional interaction, and hence fish opportunities.
Alon Ben David, an Israeli television and print journalist,
has rightly said, “If you have a few smart people and a good
computer, you can do a lot. You don’t need an aircraft, you don’t
need tanks, you don’t need an army.”

Galen Stolee

Sattya is a network of media and art people who are
interested in promoting the use of creative expression
in Nepal while also taking in issues. We conduct various
workshops, and host a lot of documentary screenings
and events. We are a network based organisation,
so using social media is a must. And facebook is
essential in organising our events, promoting them and
communicating with people – it is so great to have that
base you know. When we have an event, we just put it
up on facebook and it simultaneously reaches everyone
who has ever been interested in Sattya. It is a great
way to network with people, keep them together, and
advertise. The use of social networking is also a big part
of what we are about because we are not just about the
old media limited to photography and writing. We are
very much interested in where social media is taking art
and expression because that is something we are very
passionate about. The word spreads and that is the magic
of social media that it can propagate those ideas without
anyone controlling it. But sometimes I feel people rely
on it too much and forget about the importance of
networking and meeting in person. At Sattya we make an
effort because we are an art organisation, so we believe in
promoting through flyers and that sort of thing. We want
people to feel that social networking is not the only thing
we are going to do. We do think it is such a useful and
important tool beyond just business, to get into activism,
creating change and getting your voice heard. It has really
changed many things around Nepal whether we talk
about the Anti Monsanto Act or other significant acts.

I guess I entered the world of social media in 2006 – the
year facebook was born. At present, I use facebook, LinkedIn and twitter only. Although I am a lawyer by profession,
I find social media an interesting platform to garner a
broader opinion on solid topics like law, politics and society.
Social media has also helped me directly or indirectly write
articles on legal issues. And I share them on facebook so
that I can get first-hand comments. I really appreciate the
feedback I receive via facebook. Linked-In, I find it a bit
relationship-oriented, but it does help strengthen one’s
social network and connect with different people more or
less from the same career background. And quite recently
I have opened an account on twitter and I plan to make
more use of this than facebook and Linked-In.
It is a fact that social media has taken the world by storm
today. And we often get to hear about different countries banning
certain social medium citing various reasons. But despite many
rumours that circulate here time and again about social media
being restricted in Nepal too, I don’t think Nepali government
will ban it completely though it does have the authority to impose
certain restrictions in social media. It’s quite apparent that social
media has become a strong craze amongst millions of Nepalis over
the past few years – there’s hardly any student without a facebook
account. Since most people here are using social media to get to
know more people and widen then network, adding unknown
people and sharing all personal information can be hazardous.
No wonder the rate of cyber crime is alarming today. Thus, it
helps to be aware that there is Cyber Law that deals with cyber
crime. If you are being abused in any social networking sites, my
advice to you is to file a complaint ASAP at the police station. I
also strongly feel that parents should keep their children’s internet
use under strict supervision to prevent them from misusing it for
something fun and protect them from predators working in the
world wide web.

Semanta Dahal

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 19

Rajneesh Bhandari

I have access to internet 24 hours through my 3G mobile set. I not
only access social media as a person wanting to keep in touch with
friends and family, but also as a journalist trying to reach out to people,
share information and get feedback on my stories. I always think
twice or more before posting anything on the social networking site,
and I don’t usually share anything too personal. For example, I post
links of my articles published or news broadcast asking my friends or
those in my network to please read and share their feedback. Also,
social media opens up accessibility for people to follow people they
want to, depending on their area of interest. Most musicians, actors,
diplomats and even politicians have a page (on facebook) through
which they can interact with people. And most of the time, a credible
page on facebook can be a good source of news for journalists like me.
For instance, I was following former minister Jaya Prakash Gupta on
facebook, and one fine day, he announced his resignation through
a status update. Now that was big news. However, journalists and
any facebook/ social media user should check and cross check the
credibility of anything spread on social media.
Personally, I love technology. And being a journalist with a
thorough knowledge of technology helps a lot. I guess the right use
of social media is updating yourself on technology, and my activity on
social media has proved beneficial in many ways. For example, there
was a protest going on in Kathmandu yesterday, and I tweeted two
pictures of the protest which I took from my mobile phone. Later, it
was awesome to learn that the pictures were featured in Right now,
a website that features breaking news from around the world as and
when it happens. Since the featured pictures on the website also had
my byline, it was a plus point for me being a journalist, and it could
be the same for anyone else in my place. Therefore, social media is
also a space to express your views and interact with not only national
international audiences as well.
20 | VOW | January 2012

I am an avid facebook user, and that is because all my
friends ‘live’ there. I started using social networking
site back in 2006 with hi5. After a year and half, I
shifted to facebook and twitter, and now I mostly use
facebook. One thing very few people know is that
apart from the normal interaction that takes place on
facebook among long lost friends and new ones, it also
provides opportunities to earn – some websites like
freelancer.com and microjobs.com actually pay you to
increase likes for some pages on facebook. I am a web
designer by profession and I pretty much make my
living via internet. So basically, I have access to the
internet 24 hours a day. In fact almost all youth with
mobile phones use internet today. Personally, I feel I
can easily get through a week without a mobile phone,
but not the internet… I’d surely go crazy.

Uttam Adhikari

Nepalis are also widely using YouTube these days.
And the best thing about YouTube is that you can
also earn good money by posting your videos on it.
Nonetheless, earning from YouTube solely depends
upon how much traffic you get on our video or
channel. The more views and subscribers you have, the
more money you earn. Google’s ad sense programme
pays you the money. A YouTube video is eligible to
the ad sense ads only after a video gets at least 10,000
views. And this can take time. The viewership depends
on what you have uploaded and what you have done to
promote it.

Get rid of it now!
Tired of that little dark line
of hair above your sexy
pout? Do you avoid wearing
sleeveless tops because your
underarms and hands are
hairy? Want your legs to feel
silky? For most women, body
and facial hair is a big no-no.
But thankfully there are a
range of options to remove
unwanted hair.

Shaving: Shaving is cheap, easy and
you can do it yourself anytime… almost
anywhere! However, there are a few things
you should keep in mind. Shaving should
be done after applying moisturiser to the
skin to help the razor glide to avoid cutting
or scraping. Common moisturisers include
water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, or
body wash. While some women shave the
bikini area, waxing is a better option. And
unless you are a man, put down the razor for
removing facial hair. Shaving creates blunt
edges which make the hair appear thicker
and it is extremely temporary option.
Creams: Remove unwanted hair by

spreading on a thick layer of cream and
wait around 10 minutes. The cream makes
the hair soft and easy to wipe away. Allergic
reactions are not uncommon so be sure to
test out any product on your wrist first. Read
instructions carefully.

Bleaching: Bleaching just makes the
hair less noticeable by lightening its colour, it
does not remove it. This is especially useful for
areas that have thin but dark and noticeable
hair, like the arms, face, or neck.
Waxing: A popular service found at

salons and spas everywhere, and a wide
variety of home kits sold, waxing is an
effective method for removing large amounts

of hair at one go. Cold waxes are available
usually attached to strips, which are patted
onto the skin. Wax that is still left on
the skin must be peeled or scratched off.
Caution must be used when heating wax
so as not to burn the skin.

Plucking: Plucking hair with
tweezers is an effective way to remove
hair especially on the eye brows but can
be time consuming. The hair shaft must be
long enough to grasp with tweezers.
Threading: This ancient hair removal
method using a string is highly sought after
for precise eyebrow shaping and facial hair
removal that can last up to six weeks. It is
quick, uses no chemicals and is generally
inexpensive. A big plus is that if you can
feel the hair, threading can remove it.
Laser treatment: If you are
tired of endless shaving, waxing or
depilating, permanent treatment such
as laser could be your answer. Laser
treatment utilises a pulse of light to
destroy the hair follicles. Those with
dark hair and light skin would find
this technique more beneficial as the
hair colour pigment melanin absorbs
the laser light better. One needs to
undergo frequent treatments a year and
the results vary from person to person.

Q&A

step

makeup tips for beginners
Whether you want to play up, shine or sparkle, it’s the
season to dazzle, so if you’re looking for a makeup tutor,
trying to find flattering makeup for your face or just want
to know how to groom your face, here are a few simple
and basic tips.
STEP 1: FOUNDATION

STEP 3: EYE MAKEUP

After cleansing, toning and
moisturising your face, apply a small
amount of foundation to the tip of
your index finger, dot on the forehead,
nose, cheeks and chin, then blend in an
upward and outward motion. Be sure
to apply foundation over your eyelids
and blend. Glance in the mirror to
ensure that the foundation has blended
properly and there is no line. You can
use a concealer to cover imperfections
such as blemishes and dark spots.

Starting at your lash line, apply
your base colour first, then apply your
crease colour in the crease area. Then
apply your highlight colour below the
brow bone. Finally, blend the colours
with a cotton ball or your fingertip to
remove any obvious line. If the colours
are too bright, tone down with a little
translucent powder. Then apply a coat or
two of mascara and dust your entire face
downward with translucent powder.

STEP 2: TRANSLUCENT
POWDER

Apply blush on the apples of your cheeks
so that it radiates when you smile. It
should go no closer to your nose, but
directly beneath the iris of your eye, below
nostril-level and into your temple hairline.
A good blush brush that’s tapered for
precise placement is a must.

Using a powder brush, apply
translucent powder in a downward
motion for a smooth finish. Translucent
powder helps eye makeup and blush to
go on smoother and blend better. It also
keeps your face looking fresh and your
makeup will last longer.

26 | VOW | January 2012

STEP 4: BLUSH

STEP 5: LIPSTICK

Define the outline of your lips with a
professional lip brush or a lip liner pencil
that closely matches the colour of your
lipstick. Then apply your lipstick and
blend the liner with a lip brush. Start
from the centre, working outwards.

BEAUTY

I am a housewife with two young kids
to look after. With winter already in, I am
worried about my hands and feet care.
They look pretty dark, rough and dry. I use
glycerine on my hands and feet every night
but still my skin looks dry. How can I keep
them soft and supple?
– Archana Bhattarai
Dear Archana, unfortunately winter
season comes with dehydrated skin for
almost everyone. Our hands and feet get
affected by winter harshness the most and
we end up getting dry hands and feet. One
of the best ways to keep the moisture of
your skin intact is by limiting the use of hot
water for various purposes like cleaning
and washing. Hot water makes the skin
vulnerable and washes off the skin’s natural
moisture. Also keep moisturising your skin
with a rich moisturiser every time you wash
your hands. Don’t forget to moisturise your
feet before going to bed. Wear gloves and
socks every time you step out of the house
in the cold. If you need more help, don’t
hesitate to contact me.

With the clock ticking fast in today’s fast-paced
world, you can hardly afford to let your hair dry on
its own while you are already getting late for work
or some important meeting. And you cannot go
out with water still dripping from your hair. That’s
exactly when a blow dryer comes in handy. But,
take heed, blow drying can also cost you your
hair if you are not careful. Here we have listed
some of the pros and cons of blow drying along
with some useful fixes…
Pros of blow drying

Cons of blow drying

• Adds instant volume to the hair.

• Dehydrates your hair follicles.

• Helps straightening and styling the
hair.

• Damages your hair and makes it dull.

• It is fast – you can get perfect hair in just
a couple of minutes instead of waiting
till it dries on its own.
• If you want to use flat iron or curling
iron, drying hair first is a must.

• Hair loses its shine and health, making
it prone to breakage and split ends.

Smooth fixes
• If you decide to blow your hair dry on a
daily basis, you need to make sure that
you treat your hair right. Condition
well each time you wash your hair and
rinse with cool water. This way, you
will close the conditioner into the hair
follicle, assuring a natural shine. And
you must avoid blowing the hair dry
when it is soaking wet. Wrap your hair
with a towel to squeeze
that excess water out
and be sure to keep

the hairdryer six to eight inches away
from your head at all times. Do not dry
your hair all the way through. The best
option is to stop using the blow dryer
while your hair is still a little damp.
• Apply hair mask once in a while.
Homemade hair masks are even better
because of the 100 percent natural
ingredients. Massage your scalp when
washing it. Massaging stimulates
blood circulation which helps in hair
growth.
• Use heat protecting serums before blow
drying and try to make it as gentle as
possible.
• Nourish your body right. Have food
rich in vitamins and drink plenty of
water. Healthy nutrition helps your
hair to regenerate and keep its natural
moisture.

hold my hand
I don’t like my fiancée

I am avid reader of your magazine
and have always been inspired by
the articles in it and especially by
the Hold My Hand column. I have a
problem and I am very confused and
troubled by it. I was engaged last
summer and we are to be married in
July this year. My parents thought this
would give me enough time to get to
know my life partner. My problem is
that initially I liked my fiancée and
he projected himself very well. But
the more I get to know him, the less
I think of him. While he is very well
behaved with me and my family, he
is very rude to his mother and to his
staff and colleagues. He also has a
tendency to show off all the time –
if somebody can do something, he
claims to know how to do it better.
He almost never praises anyone’s
efforts, and I have noticed that he
sulks if I do so. Lately, I find that
he has become very clingy and
is constantly questioning where I
am, what I am doing, etc. I can’t
imagine living with this man for the
rest of my life. My parents are very
traditional and I am not sure if they
will be able to handle the gossip
and rumours should I break off this
engagement. Am I overreacting or
am I correct? Please advise me as
soon as possible.
- Namita
Namita, it’s a tough place to be
in but you are right in your thinking…
if you can’t respect the man now,
there will be ver y little space for
love to grow. Marriage is based on
love, trust and commitment while
both par tners continue to make
compromises and adjustments as
they go along in the journey of life
together… we agree that it will be
very difficult for you. You are again
30 | VOW | January 2012

Shalini Wadhwa

right in taking into consideration
your parent’s feelings, but you must
also understand that they ultimately
want your happiness and well-being.
A little pain right now will save them
a lot of heartache later. It’s best
to open your heart to them and do
what you must. Be gentle with the
man, he may never understand your
perspective and will hold it against
you, but that is something you will
have to bear too. All the best.

I don’t want to marry, but I do
want to have a child

I am 36 years old and unmarried.
I am smart, independent, good
looking and own a business. While
I have been in two relationships
already, I have never considered
marriage. I come from a broken
family and have come to believe that
marriage cannot keep a relationship
together if both partners are not
happy – ultimately a relationship is
based on love, care and commitment.
At this point in my life I am single
and have begun to think of having
a child. When I shared this with my
close friends, they were supportive
but were also full of qualms. It goes
against our society which is so tough
on single women, but they also feel
that I will be unfair on the child
whose wellbeing and upbringing
requires the love and care of both
parents. I also want to give birth to
my child and I know this will raise a

Charu Chadha

lot of questions. While I don’t care
about the society, I do care if my child
will have to bear the burden of my
choices. I also know that ultimately it
is only me who can make this choice,
but I would like to have the opinion
of the Voice of Women. Look forward
to hearing from you.
- name withheld
You are right, ultimately it is a
choice that only you can make. But
know that if you have the courage
and the determination to live with
your choices and without regret…you
are on the right path. Having a child
will bring you lots of love, laughter
and heartache… being a mother is
an indefinable experience but like
someone said - Making the decision
to have a child is momentous. It is
to decide forever to have your heart
go walking around outside your body.
We wish you luck… but also keep
your heart open to a relationship
that may just last forever. You don’t
enter or not enter a committed
relationship (marriage) thinking
whether it will last or not last… it’s
like ever ything else in life… you
believe in it, you contribute to it, and
you enjoy it through the good times
and the bad… sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn’t. It doesn’t
make you a better person or worse,
but it does ensure that you have not
stood on the edge afraid, and that
you have lived fully and with hope
and faith in your heart.

My brother is on drugs

I am 16 years old and have a brother who is two
years older to me. My brother got into drugs three
years ago and despite a lot of professional help, he
always goes back to becoming a user. Our home was
happy at one time, but now we are always tense. He
creates scenes, disappears for days, hurts my mother
with abusive language, has dropped out of college,
steals money and valuables from the house, was
almost arrested some months ago. There is so much
unhappiness in the house and everyone is focused just
on him. I am beginning to resent him and sometimes
wish that he would just disappear although I am
ashamed of this thought. My father has to work long
hours and has blood pressure. He is a very kind and
soft human being and I can see that he is not sure
what he can do to make this better. I don’t know what
to do. I am always the one to make compromises at
home… I have to look out for him, I can’t have friends
over, people talk behind our back…. Please help me
help my brother. Will it be like this always? I can’t study
properly these days. I am worried all the time.
– name withheld

You have been a very strong, young girl and
however unfortunate it is, you will have to learn to
live a normal life within the constraints you have
in the family. One person’s problems can make
life so difficult in the family. You must encourage
your parents to continue getting professional help
and counseling for your brother. Drug users usually
have deeper issues and they need a lot of love and
understanding. It gets difficult for others to constantly
become care givers, but there is little alternative.
One of our columnists, Dr Sharad Man Tamrakar is
available at Norvic Hospital and you may consider
consulting him. Meanwhile, stay happy and don’t feel
defeated… everyone’s pain, everyone’s joy counts
once you are family. And don’t worry about having
negative thoughts for your brother – it happens when
you are overly stressed and tired, but you know that
you don’t really mean it and that’s what really counts.
While the pressures are high at home, don’t neglect
your own development, studies and having fun once
in a while. You deserve it. Take time out from home
every now and then… go stay with friends or cousins
occasionally and allow yourself to be happy without
any guilt. While we can’t assure you about your
brother’s situation completely, we can definitely tell
you that there are many users who have come out
of it completely and today live normal, healthy lives.
Give him every opportunity to find his way back.
Take care.
Send your questions to editorial@vow.com.np

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 31

relationship

Mean

things

you should
not tell your
parents
Dear children, your parents
have feelings. They were not
always parents, and they had
a life before you came along.
And they have made many
sacrifices for you.
Before you think “I always treat my
parents right”, let us tell you that being
good to your parents does not include
sweet talking them for extra pocket money,
or doing chores just to finally cajole them
into buying you some goodies. Whether
you are 13 or 30 you are still your parents’
child and they will always be your parents.
You should know that your angry words
or sentences wound your parents. Think
before you speak.
Yes, these things are totally not cool.

“I hate you!”

You don’t mean it and your parents
know you don’t really mean it. But it hurts
to hear someone you love say it out loud to
them. This is a cruel and insensitive thing
to say to someone who has been giving you
so much love and putting you first, even
before themselves.
32 | VOW | January 2012

“You don’t even know this.”

Every time you say this, your parents
will feel like they are being belittled by
you. Remember you were taught the most
important things in life by your parents.
Just because you now know a few fancy
words or some things that aren’t really
all that important to your parents, don’t
act smart.

“Ugh, uff, whatever…”

However insignificant it might seem
to you, these expressions are as loaded as
huge canons. It is not only irritating to be
faced with a disobedient child but to hear
such comments and actions only add fuel
to the fire. Your parents will feel slighted
and more disgruntled than ever.

“You are cheap.”

This might be your weapon when
your parents tell you they can’t buy you
everything you want. If it seems like the
end of the earth for you not to get that
new pair of shoes or that video game, then
go out and work for it. It is very mean to
think of your parents as your ATM. If
you are big enough to realise you want
something very badly and call your parents
names, then you are certainly big enough
to work for it.

“Shut up!”

Now this is downright rude and you
deserve a spanking.

“My friend’s parents are better
than you both.”

Don’t ever compare your parents with
somebody else’s. Parents want the best
for us and raise us in the way they think
best. Unless they are extremists who only
give you stale bread and a thin gruel for
your meals, clothe you in hand-me-downs

and make you do all the chores in the
house, they certainly don’t deserve to
hear comparisons. And you never know
your friends think your parents are cooler
than theirs.

“It’s your fault.”

It could be easy to blame your parents
for things that happen in your life. Well it’s
time you understand that while it doesn’t
solve any of your problems, it hurts your
parents. It might or it might not be their
fault but stop putting the blame on them.
They don’t blame you for anything, so why
should you? Learn to let things be.

“Why don’t you die?”

Shame on you! You have no right to say
such a thing. It is utterly hurtful, shocking,
disgusting and you should be embarrassed
to hear such words coming out of your
mouth. Apologise profusely.

“I will kill myself.”

Okay, this might just be one of your
temper tantrums’ result but it is a very
serious thing to say. If you are really in
trouble or hurting, try to look for ways in
which you can seek help from your parents.
But if this is only a way to let off your
frustration, then apologise immediately.
What seems like a mere sentence to you
has a very powerful impact on your parents.
No one deserves to hear such a thing, and
especially not your parents.

Rolling your eyes

Grow up! It’s time you
stopped this non verbal way
of expressing your disgust.
If you think something
is wrong then act like an
adult and explain yourself
instead acting like an
immature person.

male menu

Your partner caught you
oggling at another woman...
What's your excuse?
Not a new story, is it? Women often catch their men staring at
other women. So what happens next? What ‘ingenious’ excuse
does he come up with to soothe her raised brows and ruffled
feelings? Read on to learn how some men manage to calm their
partners after being caught ogling at other hotties…

Lava Kafle

solutions architect, Deerwalk Inc
Since the universe is created by physics, it
makes several attractions possible. It happens
all of a sudden and there is no question on
why attractiveness, beauty, a certain outlook
or personality creates desire in human beings.
So my excuse would go something like this:
“Darling, my beloved one, love is not for
slavery but for sharing. Human beings are
created to express love, solidarity, friendship

Saurav Dhakal,

storyteller at storycycle.com
I would have two options if I am
caught checking out an attractive
woman:
1. I will tell her I know the lady but
I am having a hard time placing
her, so that was the reason I was
staring at her. I can’t remember
her but I am sure she has some
interesting STORY.
2. I will tell my partner that the
lady is my childhood friend but
now we do not speak to each
other.

But honesty is the best policy
and most times, I would tell her
what I like about the lady. If you
tell the truth, it probably won’t be
so bad and she might just nod and
let it go. A lie, on the other hand,
can be caught and she might have
a false impression of the whole
situation, landing you in deeper
trouble. She will definitely notice
when something is fishy, so it is just
better to tell her the truth and to
try and make light of the situation.
It also saves you a whole lot of time
and trouble.
34 | VOW | January 2012

Little Star Shrestha, CEO, Little

Star Records

The possibility of this kind of situation
only comes under the critical cyclone
of human feelings, and I believe such
things take place only in sensitive cases.
If I face this situation I would initially
love to watch my partner’s reaction. And
while being a Virgo, I do believe that I
have a great power of tolerance regarding
any circumstances, but in case she goes
aggressively out of limit, instead of doling
out any excuse I would prefer to say “She
could be my future girlfriend”. I am honest
and I always speak my mind… I don’t
want to be taken lightly and I want to be
known as “a man of my words” forever.

and positive feelings with each other. Love is
not contained in one small pocket or heart,
it’s boundless. There are no chains in love,
but freedom, liberty and philanthropy. It is a
human need, dignity and desire to crave for
more love.
You and I certainly respect each others’
love, but we are not bound together like
sodium chloride. This bonding is temporary.
Please see nothing in this world as permanent.
Everything is temporary. We have to leave
everything that we thought ours – wealth,
love, partner and friendship!
I will always love you honestly…
forever. I would never ever find a partner so
compassionate, kind and forgiving for my
universal demonstration of love that I share
with other attractive ones.
Please forgive me and understand that I
still love you, more so now that I have learnt
from others how to love you better. I am
always at your disposition, your heart soul and
existence…”

Dr Bikal Shrestha
dental surgeon

It is perfectly normal for our eyes to get automatically
attracted to beauty. I am sure almost all men tend to at
least glance when we pass an attractive woman. So it’s no
surprise that I have such moments too! And since I know
that just looking at someone from afar does not mean I’m
betraying my partner, I admit to doing so if she happens to
notice it. Also I would casually tease her in such situations
and try to have fun. And anyway, it so happens that most
of the time I ask her to check out that cool lady around!
By» Pramila Rai
Photos» Nibendra / Sanu Raja

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 35

Career moves

to
succeed
at your workplace!
From the career you choose until the day you retire,
you can maximise your prospects for success at work.
You can pick a career you love and choose organisations in which you
will experience success as well as personal growth and development.
However, to climb that success ladder, you need to learn, understand
and find out the essential skills to achieve that aim at work.
To help you climb this ladder of success, here are important career
strategies to become more successful in your workplace…

1

Raise the level of your
attitude

Nobody likes a negative thinker. It is said that
like begets like. Even a negative thinker will
not desire to stay long with another negative
thinker because we naturally seek for the
sunlight. So smile. Find the opportunity in
every problem and challenge. A negative
thinker may get promoted because of
seniority, but given the choice between
two seniors with the same competence, the
choice is easy. Only a positive believer can
truly be a leader. So let your positivity shine
through. To raise your altitude, you got to
raise your attitude.

2

Develop the right skills

The very least that your company
expects from you is that you get things done.
Any employer will appreciate an employee
who can do a task twice as fast as the others.
For example, there are those who can write
a sales letter for two hours. An employer
chooses one who can do it for one hour given
that the result will just be the same. However,
the employer will choose someone whose
every sales letter can close a deal. Business is

36 | VOW | January 2012

not a matter of luck. You also got to show that
you are competent. To be promoted to the
position that you desire, you must develop
the right skills for that job, not tomorrow or
next year, but today.

3

Create your own brand

Think like Coke or Starbucks. You may
not like to hear this, but it is best for you to
consider yourself a brand. Define how you want
others to see you. If you want to show that you
are an achiever, then you must think and talk
and walk like an achiever. Be deliberate with
the way you dress and the way you deal with
people. It is said that you must dress for success.
This may be true if you dress according to your
definition of success, to your ideal brand and
not according to other people’s definition of
success.

4

Build network

Become a social butterfly. You can
learn a lot from people. All successful
business value the power of networking.
Networking is about building relationships
and developing opportunities for you to
help other people and offer your services to
them.

5

Act and think like a
business owner

You will rocket your career to the top if
you’ll think like an owner. You will see
the importance of your work and that
of your co-workers to the success of the
organisation. There is a big gap between a
labourer and a CEO and this is not because
of the inequality in the society, but mainly
because most people use their hands while
the business owner uses his/her hands,
head and heart.

6

Think local

Understand the needs of people in
your organisation and the community it
serves. When you do, you will see many
opportunities of serving them. When
you think local, you will be able to offer
people not empty motivations but real life
solutions.

7

Perform world class,
not just global or
international

To be known internationally or globally
is a good thing but what is important is
that you become the best, if not the first,
in what you do. You need to show people
the meaning of world class. This is more
important than international or global. The
best career move you can make for yourself
is to make a goal of making yourself a world
class professional. Find out what’s the best
in your profession you possess and then
strive to be equal to them.

Q&A CAREER
I have been working in a reputed company for five
years and while I am happy with the work I am doing, I
think I am not being paid my due. In the five years that I
have been with the company, they have just reviewed my
salary once. I know I should talk to my seniors but I don’t
feel comfortable approaching them regarding this. Please
advise me.
– Neeta
I strongly believe that “if you love the job you do, you
don’t have to work a single day in your life!” One deserves
to be uplifted by the work one does but many are not so
fortunate. There are plenty of people who hate their jobs but
stick to them because of compulsion or because of the pay
package or because they are too lazy to look for something
else. You are lucky because you are working for a reputed
company, you have already invested a good five years and most
importantly you are “happy with the work”. Money should not
be the only driving force. Research has shown that monetary
compensations and salary hikes only provide short term
satisfaction. The factors that contribute most to job satisfaction
are the challenges that the job offers, the people that you work
with, the reputation of the company, the quality of leadership
and the joy that the work itself provides.
The other reality one has to consider is that right now
our whole nation is in a state of flux. Times are difficult
and organisations are facing the brunt of poor economic
policies, incompetent national leaders and a general sense
of hopelessness. Even if they wish to, business owners
and managers are not able to review salaries and update
their payscales. Keeping this in mind, try to contribute your
creativity and skills to make your organisation improve and
grow. At the same time, if you are unhappy about getting less
than you deserve, by all means approach your superiors and
talk to them frankly. As they say, “no harm in asking”. It is
better to overcome your discomfort than be frustrated and
allow negative emotions to fester inside. You will feel better
after airing your grievances and listening to what your seniors
have to say. You will then be in a position to make correct
decisions that could affect your entire career. Go ahead – you
can do it!

Dr Niti Rana, professional

trainer and motivator and
director of
The New Era Career
Development Institute, will
answer all your career queries.
Email your questions to
editorial@vow.com.np
Contact her at 4471957.

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 37

woman at work

Bachcha
haru ko lagi

Koseli

Renu Shah Bagaria, Founder, Koseli

The sun is back and shining post this
afternoon’s rain. We are in Koseli, a threeyear-old centre that educates children living
in the slums and those on the streets, for
free. It was started with a motive to integrate
underprivileged children into the mainstream
society through education and a better
environment.

Koseli in Nepali means ‘a gift’. Gauging around, the
centre is small and does not look overly ambitious. The size
looks right for 102 students, with classes up to the seventh
standard, and the infrastructure looks basic. Good news for
the class seven students is, there will be class eight next year
and they can continue coming here. The room where we
meet Renu Bagaria, the founder, has little students lined up
in their best behaviour as they are being given new jumpers
just before their dashain holidays (I interviewed her back
in September!). The room is colourful with word games,
38 | VOW | January 2012

junior spellings and fun with shapes, story
books, toys, a mini drum set, and indoor
and outdoor games. Additionally, it seems
today makes up for one of their ‘happy’
days having been invited by the Cookie
Man this morning at Civil Mall. Once the
line gets over, a quiet boy comes hovering
at the door barefoot. Renu tells him that
he will be called the moment they find his
size. “You know, we now have sizes which
will not fit him and he is feeling so bad
that he will keep hovering around until
he finds one,” she says with a heartbroken
smile. Koseli is sustained by supporters
who are mainly individual donors. About
the jumpers, someone had the blue ones
sent while she bought the yellow ones from
New Road.
There is something nice about Renu
Bagaria – a young, subtly good-looking social
worker, who carries herself with ease... there

eventually realised that when you educate
someone, you cannot educate him/her on
an empty stomach. Absenteeism was very
high and that was when the idea of having
a kitchen community in the school popped
up. And then clothes of course… when
you see them come to school, they are in
such bad shape – most of them were sick
and unhealthy. When we took them to
the hospital, we found that most of their
health issues were related to hygiene and
sanitation because they do not have proper
toilets and come winters they do not take
a shower for months. So that is when we
started giving them a bath here.

Life in Koseli

None of these children here had gone
to school earlier. Most of them come from
the slums in Jadibuti and Sukumbasi while
the rest live on the streets. If they are not
here, they indulge in begging, rag-picking,

their classes. They come in at 8.30am but
their classes actually begin at 11.30am and
gets over at five in the evening. Here they
are not only given schooling, but they are
provided with basic needs like meals, daily
showers, clean clothes, medical care, and a
safe environment – a far cry from their days
in the slums and on the streets.

Admissions open!

For 2011 we opened for admissions in
April with 20 seats, taking only one child
from a family and preferring a girl child or
the older child. Around 60 to 70 children
turned up wanting to be admitted, and
we managed to take in 25, exceeding our
capacity. But when the school opened
for the year, we found 30 new children
coming in to our surprise. When we tried
contacting their families, there was nobody
we could get in touch with! So we realised
that these children desperately wanted to
go to school.

The worst part of the job…

Rejecting an admission is the worst
part because these children do not want to
leave… and they don’t! They hang on to
the gate, follow me or other staff, and it is
really sad. But we can only take in a certain
number of children because that is all we
can accommodate here. All the classrooms
are full now… in fact, we are even sharing
classes, like class one and class two are in
the same room. Thankfully, these kids have
been adjusting pretty well.

On their first theatrical
act with Jaamun ko rukh

Initially, we were a little sceptical if
they could pull it off, because it was their
first time. But all the 24 children who acted
in the play on the final day at Gurukul were
nowhere close to how they were earlier…
they were simply brilliant! They happily
walk around repeating their dialogues
even now.
is a sense of ease and giving that emanates
from her persona.
Grab your cup of tea to indulge in the
conversation with this month’s woman at
work.

“As a child…”

…while going to school, I would pass
through a city hospital where kids played
along the pavement. Everyday I wished I
could take them home, give them a bath
and take them along to school. But I was
scared of my mother (laughs).

And hence

From the time I started Koseli with
10 kids to now, everything has evolved. I

gambling, and what not! So we keep a few
children back even after school hours –
the ones who gamble or are vulnerable
– allowing them to have fun in the school,
prolonging their time spent here. I am
glad that these kids are taken care of,
and I feel happy to see an overall positive
transformation in them. However, I feel I
am still not doing enough.

A far cry from their days
on the slums and streets

Once they get to the school in the
morning, they brush their teeth, take a
shower, have food cooked in our kitchen and
then complete their homework (because they
don’t carry it home), and then begin with

Beyond this and now

I wish I could build more schools like
this and put all the children living in slums
and streets to study it. I believe every
child is capable – we just need to hold a
hand. As far as I am concerned, I will not
leave their hand unless they have some
kind of capability which will help them in
generating a decent source of income.
To learn more about Koseli, visit
http://nepalkoseli.blogspot.com or
like Renu says, “Just visit us at our school
in Tinkune. Spend some time with us, look
around and you could help us in many ways.”
By: Samridhi Rana
Photos: Shankar Bir Byanjankar
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 39

savor

15 young women achievers from a wide range of fields, each with a unique
potential to create change, have made it to VOW's annual list of women to watch
this year. Read on to learn more about each of them…
On Keki and Susmita:
Glam Rush, Times Square Mall, Durbar Marg, Tel: 9851100539
On Nabina:
Dress: Elegant, Shop No. T28, City Centre, Tel: 4011522
Accessories:
RD Chaahat, Durbar Marg, Tel: 4225844

wo years of journalism and a year of slam
poetry, and Ujjwala Maharjan is already a good
name in both fields. She fell into journalism by chance
when she interned at Republica as part of her academic
requirement. She has only grown to love her job though she
describes herself more as a writer than a journalist. The 22-year-old
recalls her interest in poetry as always being deep and defines the
moment she emerged as one of the five winners from the first slam
poetry workshop on December 2010 as the moment which gave her
immeasurable satisfaction. "The difference between writing slam
poetry and just poetry is that one needs to know where the pauses
are required, the specific word that will add fire to the entire poem,"
she enunciates. She knows she needs her “words to sound correct”
whether in her articles or her poetry. Slam poetry, she believes, gives
women the platform to express, to speak out. The majority of slam
poets here write and perform English poems and Ujjwala and her
group, The Word Warriors, would like slam poets to be as forthcoming
with Nepali poems and performances. Easily fascinated and prone to
intimidation, she claims that one needs to face their fears and move
on. She counts her aunt as the inspirational figure in her life, someone
who understood her creative impulses and pushed her to pursue it.
Currently doing her Masters in English Literature, Ujjwala sees herself
continuing writing and performing. And with the workshops she has
been giving, teaching is something she realised she has an aptitude
for. The best thing about being a woman? Women can deal with egos,
are open to talking and women care.

m
wo

watch 2012 • po
wer
en to

to c
reat
e cha
ng e

Sabeena Karki

senior programme producer
and presenter, Radio Kantipur;
programme coordinator, Journalism
and Mass Communication, Lecturer
ne of the best loved radio jockeys of
the country, she has nine shows on air
currently, teaches mass communication at
the bachelors level at a reputed college and
is also the coordinator for the masters level
for the same. For Sabeena Karki, as clichéd
as it sounds, the saying “If you love your job you don’t
have to work for a single day in your life” holds true. Her
passion for radio reflects in her voice, her face, in fact,
her entire demeanour. “Everyday I do my shows, I still
feel that vibe within me”, she states. With a decade in
radio behind her, it is not a small feat. As a young girl
Sabeena was an avid listener of Radio Kantipur. She has
fond memories of scribbling “to be an RJ” in the “aim”
section in her friends’ “auto books”. She grew up listening
to “Hindi Hungama” and as fate had it, it was her first
show when she landed a job with Radio Kantipur. It

42 | VOW | January 2012

Susmita Maskey

mountaineer; motivational speaker

to
2
201
ch
at
w
• power to crea
te change

She is petite in structure, but fierce in her will
power and determination. She is Susmita Maskey,
a mountaineer for the past eight years, the leader
of First Inclusive Women’s Sagarmatha Expedition
(FIWSE) and a motivational speaker. Counted as one of
the most successful expeditions in the world, FIWSE consists
of 10 female mountaineers who came from different backgrounds. It
did not deter them that eight were novices. A year of training and
they made it to the summit and back proving that not only physique
but dedication and determination also get you everywhere. She has
climbed Mount Everest three times, and in between held many jobs
and climbed many smaller peaks. The strength that keeps her moving
in times of adversity is her family and the great amount of will power
she manages to keep handy for such times. Susmita is also involved in
social work, and this stems from the fact that she was inspired by nuns
and wanted to be one as a young girl. Faced with parental opposition,
and probably a few reality checks, she exchanged this dream with
that of flying. However, as she grew older, she put her piloting
dreams aside, and instead studied dance and even same perform.
The Sherpas are her true heroes. It was in 2003 that she attended an
outdoor leadership programme organised by Nepal Mountaineering
Association and felt that she belonged in the mountains. Eight years
down the line she is happy to be where she is. Her dream, she smiles,
is to climb Mount K2.

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is the oldest show of Kantipur, on air for 17
years now. Sabeena was always a good student,
with two master degrees to her credit – one
in Journalism and Mass Communication and
another in Disaster Management. And with
10 years’ worth of experience she thought her
knowledge could serve to help students learn
how to be a good media person. Teaching
students ensures that she learns as much in
the process. The hardworking and dedicated
RJ, Sabeena would like to see women pull
themselves up and work against the social
boundaries that might be holding them
back. She feels women in Nepal suffer from
a laidback attitude. "They might be educated
and talented but at the end of the day if they
do not push themselves they cannot truly
shine to their full potential," she says. She
describes herself as confident, optimistic
and romantic, and would like to be happily
married soon.

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 43

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wom
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Anita Thapa

president, Youth Initiative

women
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s the president of a youth led
organisation, Anita works
on the issues of human rights,
democratisation, governance, peace
building and civic leadership which focus
on action based civics. "I enjoy what I do. I
can be creative, try new approaches and interventions,
meet people, learn and celebrate civics. I strongly believe
in active citizenship, and youth civic engagement and
learning," informs the lady who is not just impacting the
present but also the future. Standing tall at 29, she sees
herself doing this work for another 10 years, with the
wish to see lifelong participation of young people in the
democratisation process. "I do not believe in standing
out or being different. It is all about adding value to each
other’s work and creating synergy. My biggest dream is
to start a civic school for girls which would be a school
beyond academic excellence." On being asked if she goes
through moments of self doubt she says, "Of course, and
it forces us to re-examine what we assume. The idea
is, we should not be overwhelmed. Reassure yourself
that you are not the only one, don't hesitate to talk to
friends and family." Anita also loves to travel, explore
new things and learn history, and she knits whenever she
has time. Absolutely proud of being a woman, she says,
"We have the ability to adapt and endure through the
trying times. Multitasking doesn’t scare us and we have
deep empathy, compassion and the nurturing spirit that
seems to be so instinctive in most of us. And we know
how to enjoy life!"

Sahana
Vajracharya

2•
2 01

TV presenter,
Kantipur Television

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he best thing does
not lie in being a
man or a woman
but being human, believes
Sahana. After being crowned
the 1st runner up in Miss Nepal
2010, she went on to mark herself at the
11th position in the Miss Asia Pacific
Beauty Pageant held in Busan, South
Korea. She also won the talent award
with her dance. But this 21-year-old
spirited Leo says, “Real achievement
is beyond the awards you showcase in
your living room. It is overcoming the
fear inside you.” Her first big break on
television was in 2009 with an offer to
co-host a talk show, Yugantar, where we
watched her interviewing women from

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Mamita L Setling

independent artist and documentary filmmaker, FunkyFresh
amita graduated in journalism and joined CNBC and CNN as the youngest intern. After getting
a taste of the media for five years, she has recently begun to actively pursue her own independent
films and the art of Emceeing in HipHop. She does this through FunkyFresh, an organisation that
she and her partner, Mastakush founded. "Rediscovering HipHop set me on a whole new tangent
last year. After a chance encounter with Kush in London, we both began working on a vision that could
help educate and inspire young generations through HipHop. It started with one documentary, Manifesting
A Dream and was eventually followed by events and workshops." These two mediums – documentaries and music, give
this 24-year-old an engaging platform to reach out to people. Her biggest dream is to build their first FunkyFresh House
in Nepal, where HipHop freaks from all backgrounds can have access to the state-of-art facilities and equipments, and a
platform to network locally and globally. Likewise she also wants to start their first 'Ladies in HipHop' festival in Nepal, the
groundwork for which for which is already being laid. In the next decade, I hope to have helped create a movement of at
least 1000-strong Nepali women in HipHop (that includes graffiti artists, DJ’s, beat boxers, B-girls and poppers, beat makers
and slam poets)! It feels like an inevitable responsibility now, so much to the point where I feel if I do not do this for my
people, no one else will. "Starting out early in my career and taking the initiative to become a Femcee, not just a rapper, is
what makes me stand out from women my age. And I don’t let anything hold me back – not my age, gender or situation."

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•

social sectors to the CA members. When she
was offered Yugantar it required her to interact
in authentic Nepali and she took it up as a
challenge and a big achievement later. "Back
then, I would always carry my Nepali dictionary
and try to learn at least two new words each day."
Today getting popular as the hot anchor of the
glitterati show, Frame by Frame, Sahana is also
working on an upcoming show about the circle
of life and the cultural practices in Nepal. She is
also working on a documentary, due to be shot
soon, on Chaupadi – a practice, still prevalent in
the Western region of Nepal where menstruating
women are kept in isolation in a shed for five
days. "I see myself engaging in documentaries and
travelling around Nepal voicing various issues
and stories of the country. I believe I am doing
my bit to give something to the society through
television – you know, bringing forward inspiring
success stories, and sometimes just a little gossip
from the industry just to lighten people's moods.
And with television, everyday at work feels like
a fresh beginning since I get so many different
things to explore each new day."

Pow
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create chan

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Sharmila Khadka
Kali dancer

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ance for me is a basic need. I think it is for other dancers
as well..., to get a hassle-free mind and revive yourself.
I cannot think of my life without it,” jibes Sharmila
Khadka, one of the promising Kali dancers of Nepal.
Confident and eloquent, this Kali dancer with Lunjhya
Kala Kunja has been living her dream for the last eight years. Growing up
in Dhapakhel VDC, she recalls how she used to watch the classical dance
performance of Mithila Sharma on television and practice the same at home.
A product of a local school in her village, Sharmila knew it would be an
uphill task for her to make it in a city, let alone realise her dream. Sharmila’s
journey was laborious, but her sense of purpose and optimism coupled with
confidence helped her persevere. She claims that her guts and her nevergive-up attitude were the keys to her success. She genuinely thanks her dance
teachers – Gautam Tandukar, Raju Maharjan and Lijendra Maharjan for
teaching her various forms of dance. Today, Sharmila is greatly admired for
her performance on stage both in Nepal and abroad, and that she says is the
best award she has received. She adds, “I am proud of being a woman as only
women can perform these dance forms.” Sharmila now plans to set a dance
class in her hometown and wants to establish herself as a choreographer.

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46 | VOW | January 2012

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reate change

Smriti Dhungana

correspondent, Nagarik Daily, 23
edia happened to her by chance. Actually vying
for a seat in MBBS, she decided to make use
of her spare time by honing her writing skills –
that's how she got into newspaper and fell absolutely in
love with it! Popular today in the Nepali entertainment
industry as the 'gossip queen', Smriti Dhungana has
established herself as one of the most active entertainment beat reporter.
"I am pretty social and I am proud to say that I have been able to maintain
good relations with people in the industry," says one of the seven active
female reporters looking after this beat in Nepal. Growing up watching
lots of movies in school days, it was her craze to peep into the lives of
'celebrities' and her childhood fantasy of meeting Angelina Jolie one day
that made her choose the entertainment beat. She still fondly recalls how
she and her friends were punished for bunking school to watch Niruta
Singh starrer blockbuster Darpan Chhaya. "Despite the punishment,
we went and watched the movie two more times," she quips, and when
in the course of her work she got to meet the actress in person, she was
anything but star-struck! "I guess it's us that make the stars. Although I
was excited meeting Niruta, I found out that celebrities are but people just
like us," she says. Today, three years down the line, this 23-year-old quirky
reporter has most who's who of Nepal's entertainment industry in her
list of contacts. Recognised by the Boudha Young Heart with the Active
Youth Award in 2010, Smriti wants to continue bringing gossip from the
industry while she also tries her hand at writing scripts for movies and
eventually directing one someday. "Had I not been in media, I wouldn’t
have been able to explore my own interests in writing or directing," she
says. Besides, Smriti also works as a programme presenter in ECR FM and
CJMC FM, and can be found actively coordinating media for different
events and programmes.

Keki Adhikari

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actor

fter that awesome performance in the much acclaimed movie Masaan, it is quite hard to believe
when Keki confesses to not being a trained actor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; "I would like to believe that acting comes
naturally to me," she adds. With just two releases, this 21-year-old dusky beauty has been able to make
a name for hearself in the industry. For someone who was discovered in a dance reality show, Keki has
come a long way from the Close-up ad (her first break) followed by scores of music videos which brought
her fans and fame. "Taking up movies and deciding to make a career in acting wasn't an overnight decision.
I grew up wanting to become a doctor and letting go of that ambition needed a strong reason. I was getting rave
reviews on my music videos and
I knew I was passionate about
acting, but what made me really
decide to take this forward
professionally was the support of
my family, especially my mom,"
she recollects. Keki also accepts
that much of her hesitation to
pursue a career in the Nepali
Film Industry was also rooted
in the fact that most Nepalis
still choose Bollywood movies or
Hollywood flicks over a Nepali
movie, and women working
in glamorous fields are looked
down upon by society. "People
still look at me suspiciously
when I return home late from
work," she exclaims, "But I
love movies and I can't help
it." Also in an industry where
heroines are still used in most
films as mere props for the hero
in a dance number or to add
a hint of glamour on screen,
Keki believes that with new
concepts coming in from young
directors, change is bound
to happen. With three more
movies in the pipeline, she says
she would love to act opposite
Hari Bansha Acharya some day.
Busy shooting for her new films
and in the meantime interacting
with her fans on facebook, Keki
also loves reading novels (Paulo
Coelho is her favourite!) and
spending time with family and
friends, and soon plans to enrol
in an MBA class.

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 47

savor

at
e ch

e
cr

ith her first solo album
Silver Lining launched a
few months back, she has made it
into the hearts of many music lovers.
One of her songs, Jaaun has constantly
been making it to the topmost slot on
many countdowns, and the fact that most of
the songs in her album are about celebrating
life, rather than the clichéd love and tragedy
numbers, make her stand out among a heap
of new artistes born everyday. "I have been
singing since a really young age, but to come
up with a Nepali album was my parents' idea.
You know, being a Nepali-Tibetan living in the
West, coming up with Silver Lining meant a
lot. In the process, I also got to realise how
poor my Nepali is… I had to work on the
pronunciation for each and every word," she
chuckles. Currently studying Political Science
in the States, Dikyi is however, all set to make
a career in singing. "I know the industry here
is really small and you can't really explore
yourself much as a singer… one might feel
stuck after a while, but keeping all these aside,
I am already working on my second album," she
smiles. Inspired by Ciney Gurung, Adele and
Lady Gaga, Dikyi also plans to start writing
songs in Nepali. "I do believe writing is one
of my strengths – I have composed both the
English songs in my first album, but in the
coming days, I would like to try my hand at
composing Nepali songs too," she says. And
much like what her name means (Di-peace and
Kyi-happiness), Dikyi also sees herself sharing
the message of peace and spreading happiness
amongst people in any way possible. "I want to
reach out to people and help them. It could
be through my music or some other means,
but I definitely want to get involved in social
work," she says.

po
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to

singer

201
2•

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Dikyi Ukyab

women to watch

men to watch 2
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artist

•

Bipina Maharjan

H

a n ge

er first solo painting exhibition was showcased just six months after Bipina Maharjan joined
Lalit Kala Campus for her Intermediate level studies. And in 2012, she is coming up with her
second solo painting exhibition nearly after 10 years of interregnum! Between these years,
Bipina was busy learning the 'work of art' at Lalit Kala Campus and Tribhuvan University
(TU). She founded Rising Artist Group to support and push forward young, talented artists
to work and contribute to the art field. And her group has held several group exhibitions in the country and abroad
(Bangladesh, India, Australia and Japan) besides being actively engaged in social work. Full of life and passion,
Bipina first brush with out was in grade six; she got into a six-month long camp on painting and drawing under the
surveillance of Radhe Shyam Mulmi. Young Bipina was so thoroughly immersed that she went on to win several
prizes in various inter-school competitions. It was only during her Bachelor's that she decided to make her forte in
itching. With varied interests in graphic designing, dancing and singing, this multi-talented artist shares, that she is
highly inspired by Dr Seema Shah, noted printmaker, art critic and associate professor, TU.

48 | VOW | January 2012

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sub-editor, Wildlife Times, Wildlife Watch Group

â&#x20AC;˘

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Swechha Lamichhane

w

en

cr
ea

e
te chang

wo years ago, a friend of hers recommended Wildlife Watch Group (WWG) to her. Little had she imagined then that
her work in WWG was going to change her perception towards wildlife totally. "I used to think that wildlife merely
meant tiger, rhino and other wild creatures that are there in the jungle and to look at which people pay money in the
zoo, but after starting my work here, I know how much we all are connected," she shares. A graduate in Environment Science and
currently pursuing her Masters in Water Resource Management from Nepal Engineering College, she says that WWG, especially her
boss, Mangal Man Shakya, has been her inspiration to work harder towards preserving wildlife. As a sub-editor of a monthly wildlife
magazine, she collects information regarding wildlife not only of Nepal but of the whole South Asian region. A great fan of wildlife
conservationists Dr Shirley McGreal and Jane Goodall, this 26-year-old strongly feels that there's a need for young people like her to
come up and work diligently, energetically to preserve wildlife. "You know, there are only older people (experts) working passionately and
contributing their bit on wildlife conservation, and it would be great to see more young people involved," she suggests. Regarding her career
in wildlife, Swechha has plans to incorporate
water and wildlife in future and work towards
the protection of the natural heritages in every
way possible. In times of despair and selfdoubt, she turns to her family â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially her
mother and sister for reassurance. Apart from
her passion towards her work, Swechha loves
to travel and read novels, and finds Pandas
irresistibly cute!

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 49

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2nd runner up, Miss Nepal
USA 2010

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raceful and down-to-earth,
Nabina Basnet, the 2nd runner
up of Miss Nepal USA 2010
is not just another pretty face
in the mushrooming world of
fashion. Currently studying Media
and Television Broadcasting in
Dallas, Texas, she has been chosen as
CyberSansar's brand ambassador for
America and worked as the model
coordinator, choreographer
and PR officer for the ANA
Fashion Extravaganza
01
2011. Besides,
2
•p
Nabina has
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w
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Nabina Basnet

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worked as a Radio Jockey in Radio Salam
Namaste, Fun Asia Radio and Radio AZAD
back in Dallas. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey
and Anuradha Koirala, Nabina says
she doesn't believe in dreaming
big, "I take life as it comes, and
it has been serving me at its
best so far." She doesn't make
long-term plans for herself but
this happy-go-lucky Virgo girl
knows that she'll be successful
and 'may be married' in the next
10 years. Absolutely in love with
being a woman, Nabina beloeves that the
best thing about being a woman is her ability to
rule the world while also being able to give continuity
to her generation. "As clichéd as it might sound, the
best thing about being a woman is her ability to create
life," she beams. In her free time, she loves playing
basketball, photography, travelling, shopping and
learning new things.

50 | VOW | January 2012

singer

ge
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â&#x20AC;˘

ch
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hen Ritu sang Reema Gurung's Lagide Lagide in one of the rounds of the singing reality show Singing Star,
she got a standing ovation from all three judges â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sangeeta Lama, Kunti Moktan and Sugam Pokhrel. Little
did she knew that she would win the competition, becoming the first woman to win the national-level competition
so far. Brought up in a musical milieu, Ritu Lama learnt the ABCs of music from her father, Khem Lama. Balanced like
a true Libran, Ritu hailing from Pokhara recalls, "My first performance was at the age of six. One of the FMs in Pokhara
had organised a competition on the occasion of Children's Day. I sang 'Ma ta sano sano chu, ma ta ka, kha, ga, gha, ABCD
lekhdai chu' and won the second prize." There and then Ritu didn't give up, she again participated in the competition the following
year and sang Aaja rati ye aama ke sapana dekhechu doko bokne thauma schoolko jhola bokechu thus making her the ultimate winner!
Both songs were composed by her father and since then Ritu has moved ahead in her musical journey after getting support from her
school, teachers, classmates, friends and families by taking part in several national level competitions. Presently studying music at Nepal
Music School, the down-to-earth Ritu expresses that she's a learner and her journey in Nepali music has just begun. Multi-faceted, she
also skillfully plays the keyboard, guitar, sitar and harmonium and is learning to be a versatile artist. Currently working on her first solo
album, Ritu precisely wants to be the change through the medium of music to bring awareness among listeners so that they respect
and appreciate good singers and good quality music. And this could be possible because she is a staunch believer, who considers every
obstacle in life or career as an opportunity to prove that you can overcome it an move ahead. A big fan of Norah Jones, this 17-yearold believes that gaining experience is more important than earning fame.

1
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Ritu Lama

Nayana Amatya

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chief operations officer,
Knowledhe Holding International
was my love for Maths and the logical sides of things that prompted
me to take up engineering. I love the technical aspects of things,
you know, breaking things up and making them again," Nayana quips.
But during a two-year tenure at Yomari as a software developer, she
realised how conservative people here are in their approach and
attitude towards engineers and their works. That is when she decided
to shift focus and pursue an MBA. A brilliant student, Nayana was granted
the AusAid Australian Leadership Awards in 2009 under which she completed
her MBA from the University of Queensland. Currently working as the chief
operations officer of Knowledge Holding International for the past year,
Nayana is busy meeting clients, bringing projects for the company to work on,
developing business for the company, and in the meantime, still engaging herself
in IT related projects. Bold and articulate, Nayana takes pride in being able to
bridge the gap between an engineer and manager. "As a certified engineer, I can
understand what and how engineers need to work, and as an MBA graduate,
I also understand how the management team functions," she says. Highly
inspired by her mom, who despite being a busy gynaecologist always made time
for the family, Nayana claims to not being blindly driven by career alone either.
"My career is important, but family always comes first." She also believes that
education alone can't help uplift women if they don't have the confidence from
within. Also an active member of Leo Club of Manasalu for about a decade
now, Nayana, in the next 5-10 years wants herself to be recognised through a
company she might own by then. In her free time, she loves reading fiction. Joy
Adamson's Born Free is her favourite.

The first woman vice president in the history of FNCCI,
Bhawani Rana leads by example. Challenging many stereotypes
and beating odds to uphold her position in a male dominated
organisation, she also definitely is a woman of essence who
still enjoys all that comes along with being a woman. Here,
Bhawani shares with VOW people, moments and things that
make her life beautiful…

My mobile, right
since I was elected
the vice president
of FNCCI. I keep
getting calls and
I really can't do
without it.

Foods
that work like
medicine
Long ago, when there were
no scientists that made
medicines and no doctors who
prescribed them, it was the
way one lived and ate. Imagine
if tasty foods were prescribed
by doctors for a healthy body
instead of medicines. We bet
nutritionists and dieticians can
sure win a debate on this one.
Is what we eat, who we are?
Below is a list of foods that
keep us happy and give us a
chance to smile than cry out,
ouch! Try them.
Cherries

Don’t you love cherries? Anthocyanins,
which give tart cherries their deep red
colour, have anti-inflammatory properties
similar to those in aspirin, says studies.
So have cherries instead of popping those
aspirins next time around.

Papaya

A single papaya contains three
times the recommended daily allowance
for the antioxidant Vitamin C, plus
more than half the daily allotment of
beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is used to
decrease asthma symptoms caused by
exercise, to prevent certain cancers, heart
54 | VOW | January 2012

disease, cataracts, and age related macular
degeneration, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s
disease, depression, epilepsy, headache,
heartburn, high blood pressure, infertility,
Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis,
schizophrenia, and skin disorders including
psoriasis and vitiligo. Beta-carotene is also
used in malnourished women to reduce
the chances of death and night blindness
during pregnancy, as well as diarrhoea and
fever after giving birth.

Ginger

Ginger contains chemicals that work
similarly to some anti-inflammatory
medications, so its effects on arthritis
pain are not surprising. However, ginger
can also act as a blood thinner, so anyone
taking a blood-thinning medication
should collaborate with their personal
physician. If you have some kind of heart
or blood vessel disease, or if you have
poor blood flow to your brain, your doctor
could have recommended you a blood
thinner. Blood thinners reduce the risk
of heart attack and stroke by reducing the
formation of blood clots in your arteries
and veins.

Olive oil

Olive oil contains the “good”
monounsaturated fat, which protects
the body against inflammation because it
contains antioxidants called polyphenols.
For the highest antioxidant content,
choose extra virgin olive oil.

‘The sweet stuff ’ can reduce the
perception of pain, especially in children.
Studies show that when we consume
sucrose, better known as table sugar, in
particular, we hurt less. It seems to enhance
our body’s natural pain-relief system.

Water

Drinking eight glasses of water per
day can help battle gout by flushing
uric acid from the body. Eight glasses
is also the amount most health experts
recommend to keep your body moisturised
and healthy.

:::: Vitamin D foods

Vitamin D which is important for
bone strength is also critical for a number
of other body functions. Getting the basic
daily requirements of Vitamin D leads to
greater muscle strength, improvement
in physical functioning and preservation
of cartilage. Some of the best foods for
Vitamin D include wild salmon, sardines,
milk (skim, low-fat, skim plus), enriched
soy milk, egg yolks and mushrooms.

:::: Pain-relieving snacks

The tryptophan in nuts and seeds
helps make you less sensitive to pain, so
it’s a good idea to have some on hand
for day-to-day snacking. Consumed in
excess, chocolate can cause more problems
than it relieves, but a small daily dose
of dark chocolate, which contains antiinflammatory flavonoids, could provide
some measure of relief.

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 55

exerfile

Sayonara

stiff shoulders!

1

The winter demands that you wear
thick sweaters and keep yourself
buttoned up in warm coats. With
heavy layering being the need
of the hour, your poor shoulders
might be feeling a bit burdened
and stiff. It is a health hazard if your
shoulders feel burdened and your
lungs and heart feel pressed. So
don’t forget to stretch and exercise
your arms and shoulders. Take out
your dumbbells and start now.

STEP

Stand straight with your legs opened apart at shoulder’s
width. Your knees should be slightly bent. Hold the
dumbbells in your hands and make sure your palms are facing
forward. Now bend your elbows up towards your shoulder while
exhaling and then come back to the first position while inhaling.
Remember to concentrate on your biceps.
Required: Three-four sets (one set = eight repetitions)

Stand straight with your legs opened apart
at shoulder’s width, your left hand holding
a dumbbell. Then lift your left hand and bend
your elbow behind your head, supporting your elbow
with your right hand. Next raise your left hand
straight up towards the ceiling while exhaling. Then
come back to the first position and switch hands.
Required: Two sets on each hand
(one set = eight repetitions)

56 | VOW | January 2012

3

STEP

Stand straight with your legs opened apart at
shoulder’s width, holding dumbbells in both
hands. Then lift the dumbbells keeping your upper
arms straight at your shoulder’s line and your elbows bent,
as shown in the picture. Concentrate on your triceps.
Required: Two sets (one set = eight repetitions)

4

STEP

Stand straight with
legs opened apart at
shoulderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s width, your
arms raised towards the ceiling
holding dumbbells in both your
hands. Now bend your elbows
keeping your arms to the
shoulderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line while exhaling
as shown in the picture. Then
come back to the first position.
Required: Two sets
(one set = eight repetitions)

STEP

5

Slightly bend your left knee
while stretching your right leg
towards the back. Place your left
hand on your left thigh while holding a
dumbbell in your right hand. Now lift
the dumbbell to the side while exhaling
until your hand comes in line with your
shoulders. Then come back to the first
position and change hands.
Required: Two sets on each side
(one set = eight repetitions)

6

STEP

Slightly bend your left
knee while stretching your
right leg towards the back,
your left hand placed on your left
thigh. Hold a dumbbell with your
right hand and lift it up keeping
your elbow bent at 90 degrees.
Then swing it towards your back
with your elbow bent below at 90
degrees as shown in the picture.
Required: Two sets on each side
(one set = eight repetitions)

STEP

7

Slightly bend your left knee
while stretching your right
leg towards the back, your left
hand placed on your left thigh. Hold
the dumbbell in your right hand
and then lift your elbow towards
the back. Now extend your hand
straight to the back while exhaling.
Concentrate on your triceps.
Required: Two sets on each side
(one set = eight repetitions)

I have been married for 27 years and I have two kids in
their early 20s. I have been working all my life to support
my family and now my wife wants a divorce. I was shocked
when she told me this, and right since then I have been really
disturbed. I also found out that she’s having an affair with a
much younger man who’s dependent on her. This discovery was
heart-piercing. My close friends used to warn me but I never
took them seriously as I completely trusted my wife. She does
not talk to me at all while her wallet is full. And I give whatever
amount she asks for because I still love her. Both my kids are
in the States. I have no one to share my feelings with. I feel very
lonely. I worked for my wife and kids and now there’s no one I
can lean on to. I don’t feel like working anymore. I tried to kill
myself twice but got saved. Now I guess it was for a purpose –
that to take care of my sons who still need me. How can I get
over my wife and move on in life?
– Name withheld

I am a 50-year-old woman with two children. My problem is
that I feel short of breath and feel like I am going to pass out.
I mostly face this problem whenever I eat something sweet or
take sugar. I have also visited many doctors but the diagnosis
really doesn’t show anything. I am really worried about my
health, and I was wondering if it has anything to do with my
heart. I haven’t been to a cardiologist yet.
– Sugarika Thapa

No wonder you are going through one of the most terrible
times in your life with your supportive grown up sons staying
away and your wife trying to leave you when you need her the
most, especially as you are approaching old age, which is
sometimes more difficult than “midlife crisis”.

Dear Sugarika, heart diseases typically make you
uncomfortable when you are physically active. Thus one may
get chest discomfort or breathing difficulty while taking stairs
or walking briskly. If you get shortness of breath while at rest or
while just eating it is unlikely to be a heart related problem. Are
you too conscious about eating high calorie food like sugars?
I recommend you to exercise regularly. If you don’t get the
symptoms you have stated in your question then understand that
you are fine. Prolonged standing or sitting sometimes can drop
one’s blood pressure to a very low level. This may decrease the
blood flow to brain and give rise to sinking feeling. You should
get your pulse and blood pressure checked at that time using a
digital equipment.

Clinically, no doubt you are in Major Depression (severe type)
but the prognosis is good as it is reactive to adverse life events.
You will need some mood elevators to start with to get over
biological, emotional and psychological symptoms of depression.
But more important in your case is psychosocial treatment and
management, for which you can visit a mental health professional
for Marital Therapy and if deemed necessary extended to Family
Therapy. Marital Therapy will involve many sessions with in-depth
exploration of interpersonal relationships, emotional ventilation,
problem solving strategies, contractual agreement, communication
patterns, cognitive patterns, etc. The first goal of any therapy would
of course be “re-owning” your wife.
But from the view point of life-span psychology there is one
positive thing which you can cherish – you have completed your
responsibility as a parent and successfully raised two kids to full
adulthood who are apparently doing well abroad. And I am sure
you must have had many more positive, fulfilling and heartening
events and occasions in your long successful life. You could
reflect on them in the mean time.
You always have clinical psychologists and psychiatrists to
share your feelings, professionally.

Dr Bharat Rawat,

Executive Director and Consultant Cardiologist
at the Norvic International Hospital, will
answer all your heart queries.
Send your queries to him at
drrawat@norvic.wlink.com.np

Five ways to make your family and
you healthier
Dr Sharad Man Tamrakar,

health bulletin

Neuro-Psychiatrist at Norvic
International Hospital, will answer all
your mental health queries.
Send your queries to him at
editorial@vow.com.np
Contact him at
4258554/9851007474.

58 | VOW | January 2012

1. Have a pre-exercise coffee as it
boosts performance, and is high in
anti-oxidants.
2. Drink more water whenever the
air-conditioning is on, because the
A/C speeds up moisture evaporation
from the body.
3. Chop some radish into your
salad. It is rich in Vitamin C and
magnesium, and contains as much potassium as bananas.
4. If you’re watching your saturated fat, try mayonnaise on bread
instead of butter. Even full fat mayo has just 6.5 grams saturated
fat per 100 grams, whereas butter has 5 grams. (But don’t forget,
mayonnaise is still high in calories.)
5. Encourage your little ones to adopt better hand hygiene – set a
kitchen timer for 30 seconds, the time it takes to wash them properly.

Q&A TEETH

Q&A HOMOEOPATHY

I am 30 years old and have slightly crooked teeth. I have
been meaning to get braces, but I never seem to get the time
for it. I am afraid it might be too late, or can braces still solve
my problem? If not, what else can I do to get well-shaped
teeth?
– Arun Adhikhari

My 26-year-old brother had a small white patch on his neck
since childhood. We consulted a homoeopathic doctor and with
treatment it was slowly getting cured. But he got inked in an
effort to cover it up totally about a year ago, but now the patch
has become larger and all of us are worried about it. Please help.
– Safala Tamrakar

The best way to align teeth is by the means of braces,
and age is not a barrier. People of any age can have braces,
provided, his/her gum health is not compromised. Having
braces at an early age may give us an advantage due to the
growth of our bone taking place during our earlier years.
There are other means of aligning teeth, but they are not
highly recommended, as they often involve cutting the teeth
or adding onto them. Whatever we add, after some years it is
bound to fall. There is nothing better than one’s own tooth. If
the braces are done properly and stabilised with good biting
properties, it will not relapse in the future and even help in
maintenance of good and long lasting oral health. During the
braces treatment, one has to be extra careful and take great
care in cleaning one’s teeth, otherwise cavities and gum
diseases can occur. Brush your teeth last thing before sleep
and “floss the teeth, you wanna keep”.

Dear Safala, the white patches developing on the skin need
to be differentiated – if they are milky white or slightly pinkish,
it can be Vitiligo. If it is only a slight lightening of skin colour, it
can be an infection. I am assuming, since the patch was from
childhood, that it is Vitiligo. In Vitiligo, skin loses its normal colour
in patches. At times there is no known cause, but occasionally it
can be associated with hormonal imbalances, other autoimmune
conditions such as autoimmune thyroid disease or Type 1 diabetes,
and very often, as studied during homoeopathic case studies,
unusual stressful state of mind.

Dr Neil Pande,

Dental Surgeon at Healthy Smiles,
will answer all your teeth queries.
Send your queries to him at
neil@smilenepal.com

These patches can be very stubborn to treat, especially when
they are around bony prominences, around openings, like mouth,
ears, eyes, around tips of fingers and toes and less hairy surfaces.
It heals quicker in flat areas covered with hair. A similar family
history can at times lead to a less promising result. Homoeopathy
has a good scope in treating these patches, but they may take
considerable time to show complete regression, again depending
on the area involved and other health factors.
Yes, a patch once healed can recur in the event of returning
stress or situations where body’s disease-resisting capacity
lowers, like severe physical illness of
any kind. If your brother responded to
homoeopathic treatment in the past,
I am sure he will show good response
once again. Just that, a fresh history
will be taken by the doctor, as earlier
he was a child, and now a grownup adult, with completely different
life situations and dynamics. So be
prepared to allow the doctor to help
your brother further.

Dr Ruchi Saxena DhakaL,

Consultant Homoeopath at Karuna
Healthcare, will answer all your
homoeopathic queries. Send
your queries to her at drruchi@
holisticswasthya.com

Contact her at 4017511.

health bulletin

Fever increases immune system defense

A new study adds more reason to why our bodies employ fevers as a defense against
sickness. Researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute found that a higher body temperature
can help our immune systems to work better and harder against infected cells. The finding was
published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. “Having a fever might be uncomfortable, but this
research report and several others are showing that having a fever is part of an effective immune
response,” John Wherry, PhD, deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, said in a statement.
Earlier, researchers thought that fevers worked by hindering dangerous microbes from multiplying,
Wherry said. This new work also suggests that the immune system might be temporarily enhanced
functionally when our temperatures rise with fever, but the researchers also noted that the finding
should only prompt people to reconsider how they treat mild fevers, and not fevers that are
dangerously high.

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 59

well-being

Celebrity workout
with Sandesh

exercise
that works!

Medicine ball- core workout
Medicine ball can be effectively used through a wide range of exercises
to meet your fitness goals and needs. The exercises shown here are
selected to work your entire body and especially your core.

Back lunges with a knee twist

celebrity of the month

Samyak Udas

Director, Lotus Enterprise

Height
179.07 cms

a.

Stand straight; hold the
medicine ball (as shown above)

b. Step back with your right leg while
bending your left leg (support)

Weight
74 kilos
Diet:
I take heavy breakfast and lunch; as
for dinner it's usually light meals like
having rotis or brown food!

I’m 33 years old, 5 feet tall and weigh 78
kilograms. I eat normal Nepali meals for lunch and
dinner and hardly ever eat breakfast. Sometime I
snack during late afternoons. I run a business and
need to move around a lot during work hours. I
have been consistently called chubby since I was a
child but this is the first time I have gained weight
excessively. After work I am so tired that I cannot
think of working out. Mornings are not an option for
me as I’m a late riser. I’ve joined the gym before,
managed my diet and seen good results, but I cannot
be consistent. What can I do to help myself?
– Divya Sharma
Basically, you are overweight and to manage this
weight (shed excess fat), you need to adopt a healthy
lifestyle. Don’t look at your excess weight as a problem,
but look at it as an opportunity to change yourself for
the better because deep down the imbalance (excess
weight) is actually created by bad habits. Foremost,
I am glad that you have been exercising before even
though you have not kept up with it. What you need
to understand perhaps about this inconsistency is
whether the programs that you undertook were suitable
and enjoyable. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is a life long
journey and cannot be done in spurts. As you are a late
riser, it is better that your respect your natural tendencies
and work out in the evenings. Tiredness after work is
normal for most people, but usually it is not physical
tiredness but mental tiredness. Once you begin to
exercise, you may be uncomfortable initially but you will
free up a lot of energy eventually. Start with two days a
week and build it onwards. Also don’t seek immediate
results…it will come slowly and with consistent effort.
Please remember that any change that you bring into
your life will not come externally, it must come from
within willingly to last and result in success. Slipping is a
process of progress, don’t give up on yourself, it’s never
too late start. Good luck.

b. Sit up so your upper body is
perpendicular to the floor, push
the ball upwards to get extra
stretch

Sandesh Palungwa Limbu

c.

Pause, return to the
original position
Repeat - 15

a certified professional fitness
instructor, founder of RAGE Fitness, also
specialises in mixed martial arts. He will
answer all your fitness queries.
Send your queries to him at
ragefitness@live.com

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 61

animal anecdotes

Take care of your ageing pets
Emotional attachment is very important
for old age caring. In my experience as a
vet, I have seen many pet owners giving
up on their old pets, blaming old age as
the main reason for various ailments. I
wouldn’t say this is completely wrong, but if
you keep certain things in mind, even your
old pets can have a good life without giving
you a difficult time. What more could a pet
owner want?
The first thing you must keep in mind
is that, despite old age, your pet still needs
to exercise regularly. It might laze around
and prefer sleeping for longer hours and
some of them are simply reluctant to go
out during bad weather. Don’t get upset or
force it to come out. All it needs is a little
dose of encouragement from you.

How often do you think about
your pet’s lifestyle when they
get old? Just like humans, old
age is inevitable in your pets,
but still they could too have a
good elderly life. Therefore, it is
very important that you know
some of the best ways to care
for your old pets.
Dr Saroj Yadav,

senior veterinarian at Animal Hospital
and Research Centre, Koteshwor,
will answer all your pet queries.
Email your questions to
sarojyadav641@hotmail.com

Many old pets do not like to play with
boisterous children either – they generally
have lesser energy making it quite difficult
for them to chase around for long, and
it is also very likely that they don’t like
being teased too often. Therefore, it’s
really important for you to explain this to
your children. Very often old pets become
a little ‘moody’ and want things to take
place steadily. It is also easy to notice that
many old pets prefer a quiet environment,
and they may become more anxious when
separated from their owners. Thus, if
possible, try to avoid leaving them alone
for long hours. A neglecting attitude
towards your pet at this stage can be pretty
dangerous.
I have seen most old pets suffer from
arthritis, kidney problems and heart
ailments. Therefore, you have to really
take care of their diet too. As they won’t be

zealous enough to exercise much, chances
of obesity is very high. So you can reduce
the amount of food you serve to your pet,
but never compromise on the essential
requirements like vitamins and minerals.
You can discuss with your vet regarding
their diet.

Some golden rules to take
care of old pets:
Ask your vet: A particular disorder

should be diagnosed at first. Then discuss
clearly about the treatment options,
prognosis and management of that
particular condition. It gives you a clear
picture of the disease and helps you act
at the right moment. But unfortunately,
in our context, many pets die because of
misdiagnosis and wrong treatment. Be
vigilant.

Exercise little but often: Long
hour of play should be avoided at this
stage, but don’t hesitate to take your pet
for a walk whenever it looks enthusiastic
about doing so. Exercise requirement also
depends on the particular condition of
your pet, so don’t forget to discuss this
with your vet for guidelines.
Water is essential: If your pet is
diagnosed with kidney problems, water
could play a vital role in healing. Always
provide clean drinking water to your pet.
Prescribed medicines: If your pet

is diagnosed accurately, the prescribed
medicine will most certainly help fight
disease and live longer. Don’t forget to give
medicines on time and also take your pet to
the vet for follow ups.

Q&A PET
My dog is a mixed breed of Labrador and Lhasa Apso. She eats well, is active, well-behaved and is
healthy. However, I have noticed that the colour of her urine is yellowish, and it is really smelly. Is it normal
or am I over-reacting? I want to make sure that everything is well with her.
– Tulasa Bhattarai
Normally, the colour of urine depends upon the diet and water intake. Less water consumption
produces concentrated urine that appears dark yellow in colour with typical ammonia odour. However,
if the pet drinks sufficient amount of water, the urine should not look yellowish or smell. In your case,
it is important to notice the amount of water your dog drinks. If it is below 500ml, probably you need
to increase it. Generally a medium size (10-18 kg) dog should drink at least one litre of water, but it
also depends on the type of food the dog is given and the temperature of the environment it lives in. In
female dogs, urine can also become smelly if she’s got urinary tract infections. It should be ruled out
promptly. If she is not suffering from any medical problems, then try to encourage her to drink more
water. If the problem persists, consult with your vet. A urine examination should come up with the
accurate diagnosis.
62 | VOW | January 2012

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 63

quiz and polls

7

I’m willing to find out
why I sometimes go for
unsuitable partners.
a. Yes
b. No

8

I know how to resolve
problems quickly and
easily and learn from
them.
a. Yes
b. No

How

hot
are you?

If you are single and not seeing any one at the moment,
try this quiz by answering ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the following
statements to discover your hotness metre…
Confidence

1

I’m happy, healthy and
successful as a single
person.
a. Yes
b. No

2
3

4
5

I regularly do things that
help my confidence grow.
a. Yes
b. No

I know what qualities I’d
like in my perfect partner.
a. Yes
b. No

64 | VOW | January 2012

I am able to approach
people I am attracted to.
a. Yes
b. No

I am emotionally, and
legally, free of my last
relationship.
a. Yes
b. No

Communication

6

I’m happy with the person
I become in a couple.
a. Yes
b. No

9
10

I know when a
relationship isn’t working.
a. Yes
b. No

I can bring up problems
without criticising.
a. Yes
b. No

Passion

11

I am comfortable to be
naked in front of someone
new.
a. Yes
b. No

12

I’m pretty confident of my
lovemaking skills.

13

I am ready to be
monogamous.

14

Sexual chemistry is
important to me.

15

a. Yes
b. No

a. Yes
b. No

a. Yes
b. No

I can comfortably
communicate what I want
sexually.
a. Yes
b. No

YOUR SCORE

To add up your scores, give two
points for a ‘yes’ and zero for ‘No’.

0-14: You’re a struggling single.

You seem to find communication difficult and may not be mentally
ready for a successful relationship. Given that, like attracts like,
you may want to raise your score before pursuing a long-term
relationship. You need to break any bad relationship patterns just to
ensure you don’t set your sights too low and that you deal with any
physical or emotional fears which stand in your way. You should find
out more about how to find your Mr Right or how to become the
kind of man women love. Put simply the fact that you’re single is not
accidental and if it was a quick fix you’d have fixed it by now. You
need help of some kind.

15-27: You’re good enough, but could do better.

You have the emotional intelligence and enough self-awareness
to see a relationship succeed, so why are you still single? You
have the potential to attract what you want but need to be
clearer on what that is before you start searching. You’re a good
catch, but something’s stopping you seeking the relationship you
deserve – so what are you afraid of? To identify what is holding
you back, learn how to find your Mr Right or learn how to
become the kind of man women love. It’s time to stop being the
world’s best kept secret.

28-30: You are a love magnet.

Congratulations! You are happily single with a healthy passion for
life. In short, you are a love magnet. If like attracts like, you’re in
a very strong position. You are definitely ready for a relationship.
However, if there’s still something that seems to be holding you back
from finding your ideal partner then you need to get in touch for
some coaching if you cannot figure out your blind spot on your own.

QUESTION
Would you forgive your partner if he had a
sexual affair with someone else?
a. Yes

b. No

Voice your opinion in our poll and make your choice count.
Send your answers to editorial@vow.com.np
or simply log on to website www.vownepal.com

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 65

c) 8%
d) 2%

e) 3%
f ) 7%

spices
New singer on the
block: Milan Amatya

12 December marked the
launch of singer Milan Amatya's
new album Milan – Music
Meets Soul, introducing yet
another melodious voice to
the Nepali Music Industry. At
the official launch programme
organised by netnasha.com
at Indreni Complex, veteran
singer Premdhoj Pradhan and
actress Karishma Manandhar
jointly released the album amidst
prominent figures of the music
industry, media persons and wellwishers. Milan also performed
some of her own songs from the
album and two songs originally
sung by Tara Devi to which
the audience couldn't help but
appreciate her amazing vocal
skills. The event also saw the
official launch of the music
video of her song Jahile samma
sansarama.
Born in Assam, Milan has already released 40 albums of Rajasthani folk songs, 10 Assamese
albums, four Bodo albums and 10 Nepali albums till date, besides her latest launch. She had
also secured the first runner up title at the All India Music Competition in 2003.

Population Division, Ministry of
Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal
and Association of Youth Organisations
Nepal (AYON) in coordination with
the UNFPA organised a series of debates

Gyanodaya International Residential
School celebrated November Fest – a
school fete typical of fun, food, music, games
and energy at the school's premises on 26
November. The fest powered by Chevrolet
also saw highlights of Battle of the Bands
finale, performances by the KJC band, 1974
AD and Shivani Moktan, and test drive of
all Chevy models.

Times Square Mall’s December
Fest

Times Square Mall announced
“December Fest 2011” on 3 December.
It was a month long programme with
daily happenings like grand shopping
discounts, food festival, bar competition,
live music, fashion show, DJ session,
short film screenings and much more
throughout December. December Fest
helped in promoting Nepali talent by
giving them a platform to showcase their
talents. Established artists and bands
like Mukti ‘n’ Revival, Alt F4 and Kamal
Man Singh performed and wooed the
audience.

Live Art Hub at LASANAA

There is a new Live Art Hub
(LAH) in Lasanaa, that opened on
27 December. It is a site made for
interactions, performances, workshops,
film screenings and other experimental
modes of cultural production. The
inaugural day also included the LAH
Grant distribution and performances
by visual artists Jupiter Pradhan and
Saurganga Darshandhari.

to stimulate contemporary debate on
emerging population issues of Nepal and
gather national and regional perspectives
on the issues among key stakeholders
during the year 2011. The event took place
on 2 December at the DECC Hall.

Getting climate smart with celebrities

On 21 December, the Great Himalayan Trail – Climate Smart Celebrity Trek
was formally launched at Nepal Tourism Board. The event proposes to start the
1,700 km Himalayan journey on 15 January and end it on 13 May. The 120-day long
trek will be led by Apa Sherpa (summited Mt Everest 21 times) and Dawa Steven
Sherpa (summited Mt Everest twice), and accompanying them will be Saurav
Dhakal, British Council International Climate Champion and Samir Jung Thapa,
the official photographer of the event. The event aspires to bring in attention to
the rapid changes that the Himalayan region is going through. Organised by the
Himalayan Climate Initiative, the event had as its chief guest, Secretary of the
Ministry of Environment, Krishna Gyawali, who spoke about the importance of
the government focusing on climate and the various issues concerning it.
66 | VOW | January 2012

Book launch

Dr Shrestha saw his dream come true when
his first book, Farmosabata Nepali Suskera – a
collection of short poems that described his journey
from Taiwan to Nepal was launched on 2 December
at the Nepal Bar Association Hall. The programme
was organised by Aikyabaddhata Maasik.

Prerana's album launch

With her family and friends gathered
around, Prerana Shah Rana released her debut
album Prerana on 23 December at Tranzit
Restaurant and Bar.

Burns Violence Survivors –
Nepal united on 4 December
at 1905 to end acid and burns
violence against women and girls.
The events of the evening included
a play poem performances by
actor/director Eelum Dixit, a
musical performance by Kutumba,
a performance by the B-boyz and B-girls of the Nepal Break Dance Foundation among
others – raising voices against such violence. Attacks with kerosene and acid, as well
as burn-related suicide, often stemming from domestic violence, are issues being
addressed by the organisation.

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in the tourism sector

Nepal Tourism Board, in partnership with Nepal HIV/AIDS Alliance (NEHA),
with support from UNAIDS organised an HIV/AIDS awareness programme for
the tourism industry stakeholders on 30 November at Nepal Tourism Board. Of
the many activities planned, the first one was entitled “Half Day Workshop on
Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Tourism Sector". Lokendra Bista Magar, Minister of
Tourism and Civil Aviation was chief guest at the programme.

Tavern Tales at Café
Cheeno

This set of tavern tales by
Quixote's Cove brought together
Thomas K Shor, an American
writer and photographer, and
Kunda Dixit, the editor and
publisher of Nepali Times to talk
about Thomas's latest book A Step
Away From Paradise.

On 2 December, Indian Cultural Centre commenced a three-day cultural
programme titled “Himalayan Odyssey” in Bal Mandir and Patan Museum. The
programme comprised of talks, a photo exhibition and performances by dancers from
Arunachal Pradesh. Venerable Ngawang Tenzin Jangpo, Rinpoche of Tengboche
Monastery gave the inaugural remarks where he talked about the importance of peace
in today’s world. The welcome address was given by Jayant Prasad, ambassador of
India. Prominent personalities like writer KN Daruwala, Carroll Dunham and Anil
Chitrakar gave talks on various topics.

68 | VOW | January 2012

Kathmandu International Mountain
Film Festival (KIMFF) opened its ninth
edition on 8 December at the National
City Hall. The festival organised by Himal
Association over five days had 258 entries
representing 54 countries. Selected 52 films
were screened back to back at the City Hall
and Nepal Tourism Board.
KIMFF concluded on 12 December
with the top award in the international
competition going to Summer Pasture
(USA) directed by Lynn True and Nelson
Walker. Family Instinct (Latvia) by Andris
Gauja and Au Dela Des Cihes, Beyond the
Summits (France) by Remy Tezier won
second and third places respectively. The
first prize US $1500, second prize US $1000
and third prize US $500 was sponsored by
Nepal Mountaineering Association, North
Face and Trekking Agents Association of
Nepal (TAAN) respectively. This year,
the Audience Award went to Journey to
Yarsa (Nepal) by Dipendra Bhandari. In
the Nepal Panorama section, The Desert
Eats Us directed by Kesang Tseten received
the best film award, which received a
cash prize of Rs 25,000 sponsored by the
Film Development Board Government of
Nepal. A three-member jury comprising
Helena Mielonen (Finland), writer, painter
and climber John Innerdale, and Nepali
actor, novelist and teacher Sanjeev Upreti
judged the films.

Tonestage

Supporting World AIDS Day, Tone Music
Store and Silence Entertainment organised a
concert for all music lovers on 3 December.
The lined up bands – Horny Monks, Newaz,
Space Cake Break, White, Underside
and Albatross –gave performances. Bishal
Manandhar, management head, Silence
Entertainment said that World AIDS Day
should not only be celebrated on 1 December
but throughout the year.

Talk to me – Let's Talk about Sex!

Story Cycle and Y-PEER Nepal jointly
organised a programme titled Talk to me
– Let's Talk about Sex at Adarsha Kanya
School on 4 December. The programme was a
useful platform to talk and express values and
attitudes related to sex, which still remains
an unspoken taboo in our society. During the
programme three short videos – Apabad by
Purnendra Jha, No Threat Found by Sagar
Budathoki and Two Lives by Evan Manandhar
were screened. Keynote experts –Dr Rajendra
Bhadra, Bhumika Shrestha and Pooja Ghale
spoke and interacted with young people
on art, culture, sculpture and sex in Nepal,
homosexuality and HIV related stigma and
discrimination and youth respectively.

A much awaited film for many who read the 2005 bestseller, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a
story involving a murder, family saga and money, all set in Sweden. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist, facing
a ruined career, is assigned a task by Henrik Vanger, one of the richest men in Sweden, to find out the
mystery behind the disappearance of his great-niece, Harriet Vanger. It is also about Lisbeth Salander who
is intriguing to say the least. A young tattooed woman with a photographic memory and great computer
hacking skills, she teams up with Blomkvist to unravel the 40-year-old mystery. Make sure you do not
miss out on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

music

Mahasus

Artist: Mausami Gurung
Mausami Gurung’s third solo album Mahasus is now available in the market. After delivering hits like
Chyangbaa oiee chyangbaa, Ma Nepali, etc, fans can hear more of her melodious voice in this album. It
comprises of eight folk pop songs. Many lyricists and musicians have worked together with Mausami to
present a good quality album for her listeners, and they have done a good job. Music videos for her songs
Shital Shital and Oye Chyangba can also be enjoyed.

Revolution 2020: Love. Ambition. Corruption.

Author: Chetan Bhagat
Chetan Bhagat’s fifth release Revolution 2020 revolves around the lives of three friends – Gopal,
Raghav and Aarti, set in the time of engineering entrance exams in Varanasi. These three individuals,
whose lives begin from the same primary school in a small town of Varanasi, experience life’s vicissitudes
and handle them in their own unique ways in their attempt to find success and love. Gopal, the poor little
dumb boy eventually becomes a corrupt college director; Raghav, the talented engineer decides to work as
a reporter for a local paper to fight corruption and bring about revolution, and Aarti, the pretty daughter
of an army man, falls for the idealist but when he’s broke, realises she always loved the engineering college
director after all. Written in simple language with lots of cheesy lines, Revolution 2020 gives readers a good
picture of love and hatred, treachery and vengeance, richness and poverty, success and failure, ambition
and corruption, and of inner drive to bring revolution and succumbing to the lure of lucre. All in all, this
fast paced story loaded with scandal, sex and corruption makes for a good one-time read.

70 | VOW | January 2012

subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 71

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit

play!
Malina Joshi
Miss Nepal 2011

72 | VOW | January 2012

It takes all of twenty
minutes for me to wrap
up this interview. And
not because I run out of
questions. Malina Joshi
is easy to talk to, and no
sooner I put questions her
way than she comes back
pat with her answers.
Well, maybe I did run
out of questions after all!
The reigning Miss Nepal
is 23 years old, an MBA
graduate, wants to meet
Ricky Ponting and would
someday love to learn to
play the guitar because
she thinks “it makes you
look so cool”. A pretty
girl next door who found
fame and is learning how
to deal with it, that is
Malina Joshi for you.
Here’s what she had to say
about music, Ronan Keating and
other things in between.

Music is great company

For me music is a friend. If you ever
happen to be alone, just put on some good
music and there you have a friend to take
away your loneliness. With music at your
disposal you are never alone. I start my day
with music and that is how I like to end
it. Listening to Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone
Bad is kind of therapeutic for me because
the words give me strength… I am set to
go for the day! I find myself hitting the play
button almost every morning, and again at
night I turn to some good music.

My musical tastes run from Ronan
Keating, Lady Gaga and Fort Minor to
Sugam Pokharel and sufi songs. I really
enjoy sufi songs. I have so many favourites
I cannot name just one particular sufi song.
They hold a special place in my heart along
with slow rock. Sentimental Bollywood
songs are another favourite. I start to dream
whenever I listen to them. I think Sugam
Pokharel has such an amazing voice that
any song he sings is automatically good. His
first album 1 MB has good songs.
I don’t play any musical instruments
though I do wish I knew how to play the
guitar. Sometime ago I thought I was ready
to learn it, and I even enlisted the help
of my brother but when I was told I had
to cut my nails, I let go of the idea. I was
involved in some dance programmes and I
couldn’t afford to cut my nails. But you will
definitely see me strumming one day!

Lyrics versus music

The music wins hands down if there
is to be a fight. Let me tell you why. I like
listening to Korean songs. I have no idea
what they are singing about but I still do it
because of the music. I don’t understand the
lyrics but I certainly understand the music.
Some are catchy, some sentimental and some
haunting. Music leaves a deeper impression
then. While I don’t underestimate the power
of good words, a song needs good music more
than good words. A good song has good
music, good lyrics and of course, good vocals
to bring it to life. Failing that, good music is
a must to salvage the song.

Musical memory that makes
me smile…

When I was 15 years old, Sanjeev
Singh’s Chulesima was probably at the
height of its popularity. It had good music,
good lyrics and it was kind of romantic.
Then one boy dedicated this song to me
and I had one more reason to like this
song (laughs). So now, whenever I happen
to hear this song it brings back pleasant
memories.

My favourite artist:
Ronan Keating

I would love to meet him one day. Since
the days of Boyzone, Ronan has always been
my favourite… I like all his songs. I guess

when you like someone you automatically
like everything about him. A good place to
meet would be a cocktail party, or somewhere
with just him and me, preferably a candle
lit ambience. Oh, he looks so handsome!
(Laughs)

Future plans

When I was in London I realised Nepal
is full of opportunities. It has vast potential.
We have such a lot of developing to do that
the opportunities are boundless. I believe
we can start any kind of business ventures
here. I am an MBA graduate but have no
practical experience, so I plan to work for
a few years to gain some experience, then
I want to start my own business and be an
entrepreneur. I am interested in a lot of
things – advertising sector, movie theatres,
clothing store and restaurants. Ten years
down the line it could any one of those
things. People here are not short of money.
They are ready to pay if good products and
services are available.

Captured memories

I love collecting photographs. Be it
a small gathering, a party, or a picnic, I
am there to take pictures. I make sure I
keep at least a few photographs from that
event. I started when I was in class nine,
so I have quite a few photo albums filled
with memories.

A lesson learnt

These past few months have taught
me that one should not be judgmental. It
is very easy to form your own opinion about
someone and criticise them. But we never
know what is the inside story or what is
going on with that person. I know people
who start judging you because of your
zodiac, or the way you talk. It is not fair. I
believe you should reserve your judgment
until you know the person better.

For all the book lovers out there, Books Planet is a new
bookstore in New Baneshwor that has fiction, non-fiction,
comics, business books, philosophical works, autobiographies…
you name it. It functions as a petite library alluring you to stay
and read on in its warm and cosy ambience.
New Baneshwor
Open: 9:00am to 7:00pm, seven days a week
Tel: 4786400, 4786900

Now here’s the ultimate destination for bakery freaks!
The newly opened Expression the Café offers you a variety
of bakery items, and also specialises in a wide range of
specialty of coffees like Cappuccino, Espresso, Cafe Latte
and Americano. On the menu are some irresistible Swiss
fare and bakery delights like Espro chicken sandwich, tuna
sandwich, bread, brownies and doughnuts!
Naxal, Narayan Chaur
Open: 7:00am to 8:00pm, seven days a week
Tel: 4435948

Blue Room Lounge and Bar

Cocktails & Dreams
Cocktails and Dreams has recently opened the bar
school dedicated to provide bartending, party bartending,
mobile bartending, cocktails and flair related training
courses in Kathmandu. Their bartending courses offer
the opportunity to train in all disciplines of cocktail
bartending from customer service to bar etiquette, sales
and presentation, product knowledge to mixology and
much more. The school also offers contemporary courses
and practical hands-on and theoretical training, leading to
industry recognised qualifications.
Nagpokhari
Open: 7:00am to 7:00pm, Sunday to Friday
Tel: 4434900, 9841079039
74 | VOW | January 2012

If you love Chinese, Thai and Continental cuisine,
and enjoy exquisite drinks, then Blue Room Lounge and
Bar is not to be missed. With fresh and relaxing interiors,
this lounge is a must if you are looking to unwind after a
hard day at work or just have some quality time with your
friends and family while enjoying a drink or two.
Jhamsikhel
Open: 2:00pm to 11pm, seven days a week
Tel: 9808926186

By» Malvika Biswas
Photo» Nibendra Pradhananga

star signs

Surprising
places to

Love
find

Aries (21 Mar – 19 Apr)

Try the livestock barns in the countryside.
Slow-paced and smelly, maybe, but Aries, the
Ram, has a soft spot for small, fuzzy animals
like sheep and goats. Or, on a hike, Aries will
be the one who is bushwhacking and can’t
stay on the path. Don’t try to keep up, let
Aries come to you.

Taurus (20 Apr – 20 May)

Leo (23 Jul – 22 Aug)

The charming stranger who speaks
to you in the elevator may be a Leo. Leos
also like the wilderness, so look for them
at the zoo or a safari park. They might
even volunteer for a wildlife organisation.
A Leo might wander around in a jungle,
bird-watching in the proper season. Go say
hello, and watch too.

Virgo (23 Aug – 22 Sep)

Taureans love good food, and while
you can give it up for a while, in the end
you might blow weeks of effort by returning
to your old eating habits. A good low-fat
cookbook can enable you to push on for
considerably longer. Invest in two or three
– and you’ll be eating delicious food and
slimming down the entire year.

Go to a cricket match. It’s a sport,
but one that’s leisurely and full of tactical
decisions that a Virgo can enjoy. Your
Virgo will be the one eating a hot dog
without losing a single drop of mustard.
And, a Virgo never forgets where the car
is parked.

Gemini (21 May – 20 Jun)

Libra (23 Sep – 22 Oct)

Cancer (21 Jun – 22 Jul)

Scorpio (23 Oct – 21 Nov)

The lights and noise of a casino will
attract a Gemini, who is always thrilled to win
but doesn’t need to. Tennis courts, swimming
pools, and bike paths will also draw your more
physically active Gemini. Remember the
coffee shop or juice bar at the gym too.

All things antique and traditional
appeal to Cancers, so take that logic to
the social extreme and consider dancing,
dohori programmes, or even contra dancing
clubs. Live music and fun costumes… you
can expect to find a Cancer here. Change
partners and dance!
76 | VOW | January 2012

An adventurous Libra might be lured
to a hot air balloon show. Beautiful, breezy
things draw Libras, so consider boating and
even para-gliding events. A Libra might
not compete, but you can meet one in the
stands with the spectators.

You might find a Scorpio at a science
fiction convention – if only in a hotel’s bar. It’s
an ideal place to strike up that most profound,
if offbeat, discussion about the most universal
and personal subjects. Scorpios are often very
smart and will speculate about a range of
interesting subjects.

If you’re single and
looking for that
someone special but
don’t know how and
where to find him,
here we help you
discover some of the
more ‘secret’ spots to
meet a partner – the
one you’re meant to
be with, according to
his star sign.

Sagittarius (22 Nov – 21 Dec)

These people love horses, and especially
love high-class races, so if you can’t get to
the tracks, try the nearest sports bar with
a lovely big screen. A love of the great
outdoors rates high too, so you might find
a Sagittarius out bird-watching. Dress
warmly and in good style.

Capricorn (22 Dec – 19 Jan)

Classic cars and railroads touch the
Capricornian heart. Think power, not
speed, and workhorse technology. A
Cap might hang around some narrowgauge rail line restored for public use
or amusements. Caps might also visit a
history museum.

Aquarius (20 Jan – 18 Feb)

An Aquarius can turn up at a
renaissance fair or other historical reenactment. It’s part of the Aquarian
respect for the ingenuity and long-suffering
endurance of past people, societies, and
cultures. The seeds of the future are in that
past, and your newfound Aquarius will be
thrilled to explain all to you.

Pisces (19 Feb – 20 Mar)

A Pisces might haunt a favourite
teashop. Enjoy a soft, low-key chat about
the international varieties of tea, knowing
that the water is what’s most important.
Ask a Pisces’ opinion of the muffins and
pastries, too. Let the love flow!